Mbappé and Bellingham travel to Manchester, will start on the bench | OneFootball

Mbappé and Bellingham are in Real Madrid’s squad for Manchester and could get minutes at the Etihad, but will start on the bench. Álvaro Arbeloa is taking the bulk of his group to try to confirm a Champions League quarter-final place, according to El Periódico Mediterráneo.

Kylian Mbappé trained on Sunday after seeking a second opinion in France on a lateral collateral ligament problem. He consulted surgeon Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet in Lyon, who proposed an intensive reconditioning plan beyond Madrid’s conservative approach. Recent improvement has cleared the forward for selection.

Madrid’s push for his inclusion aligns with Nike’s wish for him to be present on France’s forthcoming United States tour, though the brand is not asking him to play. The French federation urged caution and Didier Deschamps freed him from March fixtures, yet he will be with Madrid first, then honour commercial duties.

Jude Bellingham also returns ahead of schedule after a left hamstring injury against Rayo Vallecano. Initially pencilled in for late March or early April, he is named in the travelling party. Madrid host Atlético at the Bernabéu on Sunday in a key league match.

The XI in Manchester is expected to mirror the first leg, a 3-0 win over Guardiola’s side capped by a Valverde hat-trick. Madrid intend to stay compact to protect that advantage and reach the last eight, where Bayern, 1-6 winners at Atalanta in the first leg, would likely await.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo