Real Madrid: Kylian Mbappe injury latest as Alvaro Arbeloa dealt blow ahead of Man City clash | OneFootball

French forward is struggling with a knee problem

Kylian Mbappe was not in team training for Real Madrid ahead of their Champions League clash with Manchester City on Wednesday.

Mbappe did not play in that match through injury, with Gonzalo Garcia leading the line for Los Blancos, who were led by Xabi Alonso at the time.

The Frenchman was on the bench but did not come on in the league phase encounter.

Now, Alvaro Arbeloa is in the dugout looking to lead them to a 16th European crown.

However, he may have to face City once more without his star striker, who was not involved with his team-mates at Valdebabas on Monday.

The forward had visited a specialist in Paris over injury troubles in his left knee, and he was seen just running lightly with one of Madrid’s fitness coaches away from the first-team fold.

As such, it seems that he will miss the first leg of the Champions League last 16, but should he recover in time, he could feature in the weekend’s league game against Elche ahead of the return leg at the Etihad Stadium next week.

In a fresh boost for Madrid, Antonio Rudiger returned to team training after missing the previous session and Eduardo Camavinga is back after toothache, but left-back Alvaro Carreras, formerly of Manchester United, is ruled out with a calf problem.

Rodrygo, who netted in these sides’ last meeting, is out long term with a serious knee injury, adding to a lengthy list of absentees that includes Eder Militao, Jude Bellingham, Dani Ceballos and David Alaba.