Mbappé Out as Madrid's Injury Crisis Heats Up Ahead of City Clash
10 March 2026
Mbappé sidelined as Madrid face City in CL clash
Real Madrid announced on Tuesday that their French star Kylian Mbappé will miss the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 against Manchester City, scheduled for tomorrow, due to a left knee sprain.
Doubts had lingered about his involvement, but the club officially confirmed Mbappé will not be present at the Santiago Bernabéu.
The French forward has not played since Madrid's 2-1 league defeat to Osasuna on February 21.
After treatment in Paris, Mbappé appeared in team training running cautiously in readiness to return, but his involvement in the return leg remains undecided, pending the medical team's assessment.
Overcrowded dressing room and Madrid's injury crisis
Real Madrid's injury woes extend beyond Mbappé; seven key players were absent at Tuesday's training.
Rodrigo, who suffered an ACL tear in the right knee, has ended his season and underwent a successful operation recently.
Dani Ceballos, Jude Bellingham, Éder Militao, Álvaro Carreras and David Alaba are also out of the first-leg equation.
As a result, the attack lineup is reduced to Vinícius Júnior, Gonzalo García and Franco Mastantuono, increasing pressure ahead of the clash with the Cityzens at the Bernabéu.
These circumstances raise questions about Real Madrid's ability to face the Premier League champions without their star and several regulars, in an early test of their Champions League strength this season.
Madrid will need to rely on a deep squad and tactical adjustments to keep the tie alive.
Read also: 4 riddles... injuries reveal a hidden crisis at Real Madrid.
Outlook
The path ahead remains uncertain, with the return legs to come and medical assessments ongoing. Fans will watch closely how Madrid navigates without Mbappé and several regulars as they chase a second-leg miracle.
Punchline 1: Real Madrid's medical staff must be auditioning for a comedy tour — it's a knee-slappy crisis.
Punchline 2: If injuries were a transfer window, Madrid would have signed seven players nobody asked for and still find a way to win the hearts of the bench.
