Real Madrid received a lift ahead of their Champions League clash with Manchester City after Kylian Mbappé was confirmed in the matchday squad. The update came shortly after SoftFootball reported on City’s plans to target Madrid’s weakened defence. The mood around the club had already been tense following the shock defeat to Celta Vigo.
Mbappé had raised concerns when he missed Tuesday’s training session due to discomfort in his left leg, and there were questions over whether he would be fit enough for a high-intensity match.
He still carries a broken finger from the loss to Celta Vigo, but his involvement was never fully ruled out. With 25 goals across all competitions and a huge share of Madrid’s goals in Europe, his presence offers Xabi Alonso some relief as pressure continues to mount.
The positive news around Mbappé, which was shared by the club’s official X account, was balanced by the expected confirmation that Eduardo Camavinga would not be part of the squad. The midfielder picked up an ankle issue during training and joins a long list of sidelined players.
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Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, David Alaba, Dean Huijsen, Ferland Mendy and Trent Alexander-Arnold remain unavailable, forcing Madrid to call up three academy players: Joan Martínez, Víctor Valdepeñas and Jorge Cestero.
Losing Camavinga at this stage limits Alonso’s midfield combinations and places extra workload on Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is returning from niggling fitness problems of his own.
Despite the uncertainty, preparation continued with a clear backup strategy. Endrick trained separately with Alonso as part of what many around the club describe as a contingency plan should Mbappé struggle with minutes.
The teenager has had limited opportunities since joining but remains highly rated within the setup. The likely shape remains a 4-3-3 with Thibaut Courtois in goal, Federico Valverde expected to provide emergency cover at right-back and Jude Bellingham linking midfield and attack.
The meeting with City feels like a defining night for Real Madrid’s season. Even City midfielder Bernardo Silva hinted at how familiar the matchup has become. With scrutiny increasing around Alonso and results becoming harder to defend, Mbappé’s availability arrives at exactly the right time.
