Kylian Mbappe: Real Madrid star ruled out of Benfica showdown as Champions League matchday squad confirmed | OneFootball

Star striker will sit out of crucial Champions League second leg

Kylian Mbappe has been ruled out of Real Madrid’s Champions League clash with Benfica this evening.

The game was overshadowed by alleged racist abuse of Vinicius by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni, who was handed a provisional suspension by UEFA.

It comes as a huge blow for manager Alvaro Arbeloa, who will miss his top scorer. Mbappe has netted 38 goals in 33 games in all competitions this term.

That leaves Gonzalo Garcia as the alternative option for Madrid, as they prepare to take on former manager Jose Mourinho for the second time in a week.

Mourinho won’t be on the touchline back at the Santiago Bernabeu after he was shown a red card in the first leg.

Madrid are enduring a bit of an injury crisis at present, with Jude Bellingham and Dean Huijsen among the notable names sidelined.

Dani Ceballos and Eder Militao are also on the treatment table, while winger Rodrygo will also sit this tie out as he serves a suspension for his red card against Benfica in the final match of the league phase, where the Primeira Liga side defeated Madrid in dramatic circumstances.

Goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin netted the winner in stoppage time to claim a 4-2 victory for Mourinho’s men - a result that forced Madrid into the knockout play-offs instead of qualifying for the last 16 automatically.