Real Madrid duo missing from open training ahead of Champions League clash with Manchester City | OneFootball

Real Madrid pair Kylian Mbappe and Eduardo Camavinga were absent in open training ahead of Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League clash with Manchester City.

Xabi Alonso’s side are dealing with a wide list of injury concerns ahead of a visit from the eight-time Premier League champions to the Spanish capital to continue a streak of what has become an increasingly regular fixture in Europe’s elite club competition in recent times.

Madrid suffered a shock 2-0 defeat at home to Celta Vigo at the weekend whilst Manchester City secured a comfortable 3-0 win over Sunderland as the Blues face a tricky test at home of the most successful side in UEFA Champions League history.

Eder Militao, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal, Ferland Mendy and Dean Huijsen are all expected to miss Wednesday evening’s clash – but Alonso could also be facing a fresh set of personnel headaches as he embarks upon a touchline battle with Pep Guardiola – who has previously managed the Spaniard at Bayern Munich.

Kylian Mbappe and Eduardo Camavinga were both not spotted in Real Madrid’s open training session in Madrid ahead of the game, with major doubts rising over the pair’s availability to face Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Alonso faced the press on Tuesday afternoon to preview the clash of the titans but did not provide definitive confirmation on his squad from a fitness standpoint, with Mbappe and Camavinga the most serious doubts to feature as things stand.

The ex Real Madrid midfielder, who took over as manager from Carlo Ancelotti this summer, has faced an indifferent start to a new chapter at his former club, who are fighting thick and thin with Barcelona for the La Liga title.

Madrid are yet to click into gear under Alonso and are still searching for their identity under under the 2010 FIFA World Cup winner with Spain, with the Galacticos at a nascent stage of their transition from Ancelotti to Alonso.

As for Manchester City, Guardiola’s side are set to miss Mateo Kovacic and John Stones when they face Real Madrid this week, with the former set to be on the sidelines till the spring of 2026 after undergoing surgery on his heel in November.

Guardiola confirmed after City’s win over Sunderland on Saturday that Stones had picked up an injury in the week leading to the game, elucidating upon the England international’s absence from the Blues’ matchday squad over the weekend.

It is a fool’s game to predict when Manchester City fans will finally witness the return of Rodri after the 29-year-old missed the win over Sunderland, with Guardiola admitting he does not know when the Ballon d’Or winner could be back playing again.

The Manchester City manager will be speaking to the press on Tuesday afternoon to provide a wider update on the status of the squad, with a member of the first-team squad also set to face the media ahead of this week’s hallmark UEFA Champions League group-phase clash.