Here’s the newest development ahead of the UEFA Champions League showdown between Real Madrid CF and SL Benfica set to take place later today.
Real Madrid will be forced to defend their slender lead without their talismanic forward Kylian Mbappé, as the Frenchman has been officially ruled out of tonight’s crucial Champions League knockout playoff second leg against Benfica.
The 27-year-old superstar, who has been battling persistent discomfort in his left knee since December, reportedly suffered a significant setback during final training at Valdebebas on Tuesday. Despite manager Álvaro Arbeloa initially telling reporters that Mbappé was “ready to play,” the player was forced to leave the session early after experiencing sharp pain. Following medical tests late Tuesday night, the club made the decision to omit him from the matchday squad to avoid long-term damage.
Real Madrid v Benfica: Injury update
Mbappé’s absence is a staggering blow for Los Blancos. He currently leads the Champions League scoring charts this season with 13 goals and has netted 38 times across all competitions. With Madrid holding a narrow 1-0 aggregate lead following last week’s controversial first leg in Lisbon, Arbeloa now faces a selection crisis in the final third.
The injury list at the Santiago Bernabéu is growing at the worst possible time:
- Jude Bellingham: Unavailable (Hamstring)
- Rodrygo: Out (Suspension and Hamstring)
- Dani Ceballos: Sidelined (Calf injury sustained against Osasuna)
- Éder Militão: Out (Hamstring)
Real Madrid vs Benfica predicted lineup
With both Mbappé and Rodrygo out, the door has opened for youth and rotation. Reports from Madrid suggest that talented youngster Gonzalo García is the leading candidate to start alongside Vinícius Júnior. The squad list also includes 18-year-old Franco Mastantuono and Brahim Díaz as the remaining forward options.
High Stakes at the Bernabéu
Tonight’s match carries extra tension following the racism controversy in the first leg involving Vinícius Júnior and Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni. While Prestianni was handed a provisional one-match suspension by UEFA, he has travelled with the Portuguese squad pending an appeal.
Real Madrid only need a draw to secure their place in the Round of 16, where giants like Manchester City or Sporting Lisbon await. However, without the “fear factor” of Mbappé, Jose Mourinho’s Benfica side will likely view this as their golden opportunity to overturn the deficit and cause a historic upset in the Spanish capital.
