Mbappé and Bellingham Return for Real Madrid’s Clash with Manchester City

Real Madrid have received a significant boost ahead of their Champions League round-of-16 second leg against Manchester City, with both Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham included in the travelling squad. However, Bellingham will not feature in Tuesday’s match, despite making the trip.

Mbappé’s Recovery and Availability

Kylian Mbappé has been recovering from a sprain in his left knee, having last played for Madrid in their 2-1 LaLiga defeat at Osasuna on February 21st. ESPN reports that coach Álvaro Arbeloa had previously expected Mbappé to travel to Manchester, and he is now available for selection.

Bellingham’s Inclusion and Status

Jude Bellingham’s inclusion in the squad comes earlier than anticipated. ESPN stated that the midfielder was not expected to return until April, and even England coach Thomas Tuchel had expressed doubts about his availability for the international break later this month. Bellingham has been sidelined with a muscle injury since February 1st.

Despite travelling with the team, Arbeloa confirmed that Bellingham will not play in the match against Manchester City. The Athletic quotes Arbeloa stating Bellingham “wanted to come; he’ll do part of the training session but won’t be there tomorrow.” Arbeloa emphasized Bellingham’s importance as a leader and his desire to be with the team.

Other Team News

Both Mbappé and Bellingham were absent for Madrid’s 4-1 LaLiga win over Elche on Saturday, where Arbeloa was forced to rely on academy players due to the team’s injury crisis. Left-back Álvaro Carreras has also been included in the squad, but The Athletic reports sources indicate he is unlikely to start.

Current Standings

Real Madrid currently hold a 3-0 aggregate advantage over Manchester City after a hat-trick from Federico Valverde in the first leg at the Bernabeu.