Daijiworld Media Network - Madrid

Madrid, Mar 16: Real Madrid have received a major boost ahead of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second-leg encounter against Manchester City, with star players Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham declared fit for the crucial tie.

Head coach Alvaro Arbeloa confirmed that both players have been included in the 26-man travelling squad for Tuesday’s match at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester.

Madrid head into the fixture with a 3–0 advantage from the first leg played at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, where Federico Valverde scored a first-half hat-trick.

Both Mbappe and Bellingham missed that match due to injuries. Bellingham has been sidelined for nine matches after sustaining a hamstring injury during Madrid’s 2–1 win over Rayo Vallecano in early February.

Mbappe, meanwhile, has been managing persistent discomfort in his left knee since before Christmas. The club has rested him in selected fixtures, including the loss to Manchester City in December, the Spanish Super Cup semifinal, and a recent La Liga victory over Real Sociedad.

Despite the injury concerns, Mbappe has enjoyed a remarkable season, scoring 38 goals in 33 appearances for Real Madrid and eight for France national football team. His tally includes 23 goals in La Liga and 13 in the Champions League, making him one of the top scorers in Europe. Only Harry Kane of Bayern Munich has netted more goals for club and country in Europe’s major leagues this season.

If City manage to overturn the deficit and progress, they would face the winner of the tie between Atalanta and Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals.

The Champions League quarterfinals are scheduled for April 7–8 (first leg) and April 14–15 (second leg), while the semifinals will take place on April 28–29 and May 5–6. The final is set for May 30 at the Puskas Arena in Budapest.