Real Madrid XI vs Man City: Predicted lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for Champions League today

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·11 de marzo de 2026

Real Madrid XI vs Man City: Predicted lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for Champions League today

Injuries have left Los Blancos short on options in key areas

Real Madrid are likely to be without several stars including Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham when they host Manchester City in the Champions League last-16 on Wednesday.

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Los Blancos, the record-holding 15-time winners of this competition, were forced to reach this stage via last month’s playoffs after finishing ninth in the league phase, a point and a place behind City.

Madrid exacted revenge against Benfica - who had handed them a third loss from their final five league phase fixtures - in that two-legged play-off tie, winning 3-1 on aggregate to set up a rematch with Pep Guardiola’s men, who beat them at the Bernabeu earlier this season.

Alvara Arbeloa has been dealt a tough hand with injuries lately and is expected to be without star striker Mbappe, who returned to the training pitch this week but not with the main group as he rehabs a knee injury.

In another blow to the hosts’ attack, Rodrygo has been ruled out possibly through the start of next season after rupturing his ACL.

Bellingham, meanwhile, has been sidelined for more than a month with a hamstring injury, and will play no part.

Eder Militao is out with a hamstring issue as well, with Dani Ceballos and Alvaro Carreras missing through calf problems, and David Alaba’s own calf means the Austrian defender is a doubt.

Thankfully for Arbeloa, Eduardo Camavinga is available again and should replace 18-year-old Thiago Pitarch in central midfield, the Frenchman most likely lining up alongside countryman Aurelien Tchouameni and skipper Federico Valverde.

Fede Valverde scored a stoppage time winner for Real last time out

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Dean Huijsen is also available after serving a domestic ban during last Friday’s 2-1 win at Celta Vigo. The former Bournemouth central defender is one European booking away from missing the return leg but could be given the nod in the backline alongside veteran Antonio Rudiger, unless Arbeloa chooses to stick with Raul Asencio there.

Thibaut Courtois is a lock between the posts.

The defensive injuries, particularly to Carreras, means Ferland Mendy should continue at left-back, with Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back against his old foe from England.

Trent Alexander-Arnold should start at right-back against City

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Teenaged star Franco Mastantuono is available but it’s more likely that Brahim Diaz or Arda Guler starts on the right flank with the other as a false nine and Vinicius Jr on the left.

However, Arbeloa may opt for a narrower shape to balance what we’ve increasingly seen from City recently.

Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr will surely start - but where exactly?

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In that instance, Guler could be deployed as a central No10, potentially with Gonzalo Garcia up top in a front two with Vinicius.

Last time against City, it was indeed Garcia who led the line with Mbappe also injured on that occasion. Vinicius - who alongside Tchouameni and Huijsen is one booking away from missing next week’s trip to the Etihad - was in his natural position on the left in a 4-3-3, with Rodrygo - who could be replaced by Guler or ex-City man Diaz here - on the right.