Real Madrid will play a second leg against Benfica in Portugal today in the UEFA Champions League. In the first match in Lisbon, the "royal club" secured a minimal but very valuable victory with a score of 1:0. Now, yesterday at the Bernabéu will determine the qualification for the quarter-finals.
However, before the crucial match, there is unpleasant news for the Madrid fans: one of the team's main stars, Kylian Mbappé, was left out of the squad. According to the latest reports, the French striker will miss the match due to knee pain. Several sources, including ESPN and other media outlets, wrote that Mbappe was sidelined due to a problem with his left knee.
Furthermore, reports have emerged that Mbappé hasn't fully completed Tuesday's training session. For this reason, the club and the coaching staff decided to give the player rest without taking risks. This decision will significantly impact Real Madrid's attacking capabilities, as Mbappé is one of the team's most decisive figures this season.
According to the squad list published in the media, Real Madrid is preparing for today's match with the following players:
Goalkeepers: Courtois, Lunin, Fran Gonzalez.
Defenders: Carvajal, Alaba, Trent, Asensio, A. Carreras, Fran Garcia, Rüdiger, F. Mendy.
Midfielders: Camavinga, Valverde, Chuameni, Arda Güler, Cestero, Manuel Ángel, Palacios, Thiago.
Forwards: Vinicius Junior, Gonzalo, Braim, Mastantuono.
Head coach: Alvaro Arbeloa.
In Mbappé's absence, the main focus is expected to be on Vinicius, Braim, and possibly Gonzalo. According to pre-match predictions, Gonzalo might get a chance in midfield. This will be not only a result for Real Madrid, but also a night to test the depth of the squad.
In short, the Madrid side will take the field today with an advantage, but without Mbappé. There's a one-goal reserve, but against an opponent like Benfica, it doesn't provide enough confidence. Now, on the night at the Bernabéu, Real Madrid will have to prove their strength even without a star.
Read “Zamin” on Telegram!
