- Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa confirmed on Monday that Mbappe is available again
- Arbeloa explained that Bellingham wanted to be with the team and that his presence around the squad is important
- Defender Antonio Rudiger believes one of the most important tasks will be containing City striker Erling Haaland
Kylian Mbappe is set to make his comeback from injury as Real Madrid prepare to face Manchester City in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 clash on Today.
The French forward missed Real Madrid’s dominant 3–0 victory in the first leg at the Santiago Bernabéu last week due to a knee problem, Eko Hot Blog gathered.
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However, the striker, who has scored 38 goals in 33 matches this season, is now fit and expected to play at the Etihad Stadium.
Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa confirmed on Monday that Mbappe is available again and expressed his excitement about having the star attacker back on the pitch. He added that Mbappe’s ability to score and influence games makes him a key player for the team.
Meanwhile, England midfielder Jude Bellingham also travelled with the squad to Manchester as he continues recovering from a hamstring injury. Despite making progress in his rehabilitation, Bellingham is not yet ready to play against City.
Arbeloa explained that Bellingham wanted to be with the team and that his presence around the squad is important.
Even though he will not take part in the match, the coach believes the midfielder’s leadership in the dressing room and during team discussions remains valuable.
Real Madrid head into the match with a strong advantage after the convincing first-leg win and are favourites to eliminate Manchester City from the competition for the third consecutive season.
Defender Antonio Rudiger believes one of the most important tasks will be containing City striker Erling Haaland, who has struggled to find top form in recent games.
Rudiger said he enjoys facing powerful forwards like Haaland and looks forward to the physical contest. He described the Norwegian as a world-class striker and admitted that such battles on the pitch motivate him.
The German defender also responded to criticism from Getafe player Diego Rico regarding a recent on-field challenge between them earlier this month. Rico had described the incident as an “assault”.
Rudiger acknowledged that the tackle looked harsh when replayed in slow motion but insisted the situation was exaggerated. He argued that if he had truly intended to harm Rico, the outcome would have been far worse.
He admitted that he plays with intensity and aggression but stressed that he knows where to draw the line, adding that he remains respectful of his opponents despite his tough style of defending.
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