Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa has named Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham in his 26-man squad for Tuesday’s Champions League round of 16 second leg away at Manchester City.
Madrid carries a commanding 3-0 advantage from last week’s first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, where Federico Valverde scored a stunning first-half hat trick.
Both Mbappe and Bellingham missed the first leg due to injuries, but their inclusion in the traveling squad offers a boost to Madrid’s attacking and midfield options. Left-back Alvaro Carreras and central defender David Alaba have also been included despite calf issues.
Bellingham has been sidelined for nine games since suffering a hamstring injury in a 2-1 home win over Rayo Vallecano in early February, while Mbappe has been out with a knee strain, last appearing in a 2-1 defeat at Osasuna on February 21.
It remains uncertain whether either star will see action at the Etihad Stadium, but Madrid’s squad depth ensures they remain strong contenders to advance to the quarter-finals.
Coach Arbeloa will assess both players’ fitness in training sessions leading up to the match, as the team aims to maintain its dominant aggregate lead against Manchester City in one of this season’s most anticipated European fixtures.