Why did Kylian Mbappe miss Real Madrid vs Manchester City in Champions League 2025-26 Round of 16 first leg?
(Courtesy : LaLiga)
Los Blancos are set for a big test tonight in the UCL.
One of Real Madrid’s most important nights of the season is over. But it was harder to overlook a crucial omission as the match against Manchester City last night.
Ahead of their eagerly awaited Champions League matchup with Manchester City, Real Madrid held their most recent training session at Valdebebas. However, the practice revealed a major setback for the Spanish powerhouses.
Kylian Mbappé was essentially withdrawn from the first leg at the Santiago Bernabéu because he did not train with the team. After staying in Paris for a few days to continue conservative therapy for his left knee sprain, the French forward just returned to Madrid.
The striker is obviously not ready to resume competitive activity, as evidenced by the fact that he only did light running throughout exercise with fitness coach Sébastien Devillaz.
Why Kylian Mbappe didn’t play for Real Madrid vs Manchester City?
The coaching team, headed by Álvaro Arbeloa, are adamant about not hurrying the star player’s recuperation. In order to prevent any setbacks during the crucial phase of the season, the club’s first objective is to make sure Kylian Mbappé fully recovers before making a comeback.
Kylian Mbappe has returned to light training, but the French star is likely to play a few minutes in the next LaLiga game against Elche if everything goes well. Although nothing is confirmed yet, the situation might help him rediscover rhythm before the return leg against Manchester City.
Every stage of the French star’s return will be carefully managed because it is well acknowledged inside the club that he will be essential to Real Madrid’s goals in both LaLiga and the Champions League.
The Spanish powerhouses will still look to get past Manchester City and move to the next round, with key players missing from their squad.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.