Manchester City vs Real Madrid: Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham in squad, ready to play?

Two Real Madrid stars, Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham, are once again included in the squad travelling to Etihad Stadium, the home of Manchester City, for the second leg of the Round of 16 of the Champions League. The match is scheduled for Wednesday, March 18th, early morning WIB.

The presence of these two key players provides additional options for Madrid as they attempt to secure a ticket to the Quarter-Finals. However, despite being in the squad, it remains uncertain whether either will start the match.

Mbappé has experienced discomfort in his left knee since early December and hasn't played since February 21st. Meanwhile, Bellingham has been sidelined longer after suffering a Hamstring Injury since February 1st.

According to Champions League regulations, each team is allowed to register up to 12 players on the substitute bench. 

This situation opens the door for Mbappé to potentially get playing minutes if his fitness progress in the final training sessions shows positive results.

Madrid arrives in Manchester with a significant advantage. In the first leg at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Los Blancos secured a convincing 3-0 victory thanks to a hat-trick from Federico Valverde.

Mbappé had actually continued playing despite the knee issue. The French forward was even still able to score goals consistently before finally having to step aside for recovery.

Madrid described the Injury to the French National Team star as a knee sprain. Coach Álvaro Arbeloa explained last month that the club chose to give Mbappé rest time to ensure a full recovery before returning to play.

Throughout this season, Mbappé has been highly productive, scoring 38 goals in 33 matches across all competitions for Madrid.

Meanwhile, Bellingham travelled to London to consult with a specialist regarding the Hamstring Injury he suffered. This visit was made alongside the club's medical staff to ensure the recovery process was progressing optimally.

The England midfielder sustained the injury during Madrid's 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano. 

Despite the absence, his contribution this season remains significant, with six goals and four assists recorded in 28 matches across all competitions.

Besides Mbappé and Bellingham, Madrid has also brought back several players who missed the first leg, including Álvaro Carreras and David Alaba.

However, not all players could make the trip to Manchester. Ferland Mendy and Raúl Asencio are not in the squad. Dani Ceballos is still sidelined due to a calf injury sustained since February.

Two Brazilian players, Éder Militão and Rodrygo, also remain absent as they continue long-term injury recoveries.