Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham are both expected to miss the first leg of Real Madrid's Champions League tie against Manchester City, dealing a major blow to the Spanish side. The match is scheduled for Wednesday night at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Defender Rodrygo has already been ruled out for the remainder of the season. The latest injuries to Mbappe (left knee) and Bellingham (hamstring) mean they are unlikely to feature in the first leg, but there is hope they could return for the second leg on 17 March.
Both players have seen specialists, with Mbappe consulting in Paris and Bellingham in London, accompanied by Real Madrid staff. Former Real Madrid player Álvaro Arbeloa stated: 'Yes, I speak to him every day. We're keeping a close eye on what's happening to him, how he's doing. It's a process we'll take day by day, monitoring how he's feeling. He's getting better every day. All these decisions are overseen by the club's doctors.'
Bellingham's latest injury setback also puts his place in Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers into doubt. There is no exact timeframe for his recovery, but Madrid are optimistic it is not a serious injury.
Manchester City have their own injury concerns, with Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol ruled out for the trip to Madrid, and youngsters Max Alleyne and Nico O'Reilly carrying minor knocks.
