Real Madrid superstar duo could return to face Manchester City at Etihad Stadium | OneFootball

In four days, Real Madrid face a huge challenge as they take on Manchester City in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Alvaro Arbeloa & co. go into the game on the back of a late 2-1 win over Celta Vigo in La Liga, but are set to be without some very important players, including both Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham, due to injuries.

Mbappe, Bellingham to return for the second leg?

According to AS, Neither Mbappe nor Bellingham will be available for the first leg of the round-of-16 clash between Real Madrid and Manchester City scheduled for next Wednesday.

Instead, the club is targeting the second leg at the Etihad Stadium a week later as the most feasible moment for their return.

Both stars are expected to soon rejoin the daily training routine at the club’s training complex, under the guidance of Arbeloa.

Mbappe is recovering from a left knee injury, and the treatment he is undergoing has been producing positive results.

Bellingham and Mbappe are injured. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

At one point there was some hope that the French megastar might return in time for the first leg against Manchester City, but the club has ultimately decided to respect the initial three-week recovery timeline.

Bellingham’s case is slightly different. His injury, a tear in the semitendinosus muscle of his left leg sustained against Rayo Vallecano, was initially expected to keep him sidelined until late March.

However, the response to treatment and the work he has been doing during recovery suggest that he could return earlier than anticipated.

If their recoveries continue progressing well, March 17 at the Etihad Stadium could mark the return of two of Real Madrid’s most influential players.

Second opinions

Mbappe and Bellingham are both in their homeland, France and England, respectively, where they have consulted other specialists to get a second opinion on their injuries.

Consulting external specialists is a normal practice within the club protocols. Real Madrid have prioritized ensuring that injured players receive the most accurate diagnosis and the treatment they feel most comfortable with, which sometimes involves specialists abroad.