Real Madrid faces a critical moment in Liga of UEFA’s Campeões, with French striker Kylian Mbappé absent from training on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, in Valdebebas, Madri. The 27-year-old player suffers from a broken finger and muscle discomfort in his left leg, suffered in the 2-0 defeat to Celta of Vigo the previous Sunday, by La Liga. The clash against Manchester City takes place this Wednesday, December 10th, at 5pm local time of Madri (Espanha time), for the sixth round of the group stage, and could determine the permanence of coach
The technical committee monitors Mbappé’s evolution until the morning of the game, without ruling out his presence, but his absence from the team increases concerns. Real Madrid occupies second place in La Liga, with 36 points, four behind Barcelona, and needs a victory to relieve internal pressure.
The medical department prioritizes recovery, considering that Mbappé scored 26 goals in 24 matches this season.
- Main cast injuries: finger fracture and muscle discomfort for Mbappé; ankle to Camavinga.
- Immediate impact: summoning three young people from the base to fill vacancies.
- Context of the game: decisive match for direct classification in the round of 16.
History of recent injuries to the merengue squad
Real Madrid recorded seven confirmed absences in addition to the doubt of Mbappé, which forced adjustments in the squad for the European duel. Dani Carvajal, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, Éder Militão, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy and
The board, led by Florentino Pérez, met after the loss to Celta to evaluate injuries, refereeing and the team’s overall performance. Alonso called up base reserves, including names like Nico Paz and Manuel Ángel, for extra training on Monday.
These absences expose a sequence of nine muscle injuries in the last 30 days, according to the club’s internal data.
Tactical preparation under pressure for European clash
Xabi Alonso adjusted tactical exercises in Monday’s training, focusing on quick transitions without Mbappé, who individually tested light activities. The Spanish coach emphasized the importance of defensive compactness against the City attack, led by Erling Haaland, in a video session analyzing the English team’s last five games.
The team simulated scenarios with and without the Frenchman, promoting Vinícius Júnior to the central position and Rodrygo on the wings. Alonso called up 23 players, prioritizing a balance between experience and youth.
The game marks the return to Bernabéu after travel, with a maximum capacity of 81 thousand expected fans.
Context of the recent rivalry between Real Madrid and Manchester City
The teams have met three times in the last two years at Champions, with City winning twice, including 4-0 in the 2024 semi-final.
Alonso, a former Bayern player, knows Pep Guardiola, his former mentor, well and plans to exploit errors in his rivals’ ball release. The clash takes place in the midst of an irregular phase for the Merengues, with just two wins in the last five official games.
Statistics show that Real Madrid has 65% possession at home against the English, but only converts 12% into goals.
City arrive unbeaten in five European matches, with Haaland scoring seven goals in the competition.
Analysis of embezzlement and emergency calls
Mbappé suffered a broken finger during a tackle in the second half against Celta, in the 68th minute, and muscle discomfort appeared soon after. Exames imaging confirmed the bone injury, with an estimated recovery time of two weeks, but the medical department opted for conservative management to avoid worsening.
Camavinga, with an ankle sprain since the game against Athletic Bilbao on November 30, undergoes daily physiotherapy with no return scheduled for this week. Militão faces four months out due to a ruptured knee, which was operated on on December 5th.
To fill the vacancies, Alonso included young people from the base in training:
- Nico Paz, 20-year-old midfielder, with two goals in the reserve season.
- Manuel Ángel, 18-year-old defender, trained in the back three.
- Fran González, third goalkeeper, as an emergency option.
These call-ups reflect a depth crisis in the squad, with 14 players injured this year.
Current situation in the table of Liga of Campeões
Real Madrid has 10 points in Grupo A, with victories over Borussia Dortmund and Salzburg, but stumbles against City in September. Manchester City, with nine, needs at least a draw to advance directly, depending on other results.
The group stage ends in this round, with the leader guaranteeing a place in the round of 16 without playoffs. Alonso highlighted in a press conference on Monday the need for total focus, citing that the team averages 2.1 goals per home game in the competition.
UEFA data indicates that teams with more than seven absences win just 28% of European home games.
The confrontation could change the classification, with Dortmund pushing with eight points.
Statements from the technical committee regarding the doubt of Mbappé
Alonso avoided details about Mbappé in the game preview, held at 1pm Madri local time, but said the team is “prepared for any scenario”. Technical assistant Davide Ancelotti mentioned that the Frenchman carried out isolated speed tests, with positive results, but the final decision rests with the doctor.
The club issued an official statement at 6pm on Tuesday confirming the absence from the collective, with no deadlines. Pérez, in an internal meeting, demanded solutions for the tight schedule, with games from La Liga and Copa del Rey in January.
Mbappé, in a post on the networks after Celta, thanked the fans for their support, without mentioning injuries.
The fans reacted with messages of support around Bernabéu since Monday.
