The tension surrounding Real Madrid grows ahead of their Champions League clash with Manchester City, and the complications extend far beyond recent results. The medical report continues to thicken at the worst possible time, placing key players in doubt and forcing Xabi Alonso to prepare for one of the toughest matches of the season with limited resources.
And at the center of this concern stands Kylian Mbappé, available for the trip to the Etihad—but not at full strength.

A Fractured Finger, Heavy Taping… and an Almost Guaranteed Starting Role

Mbappé suffered a fracture in the ring finger of his left hand during the match against Celta Vigo. He finished the game, but the pain clearly affected his performance.
According to club sources, he will feature against Manchester City, but he’ll do so with a protective wrap similar to what Karim Benzema used in the past.

The injury doesn’t prevent him from playing, yet it poses a real inconvenience for a player who constantly relies on balance, upper-body leverage and arm control in one-on-one duels. It’s manageable—but far from ideal before facing one of the toughest defenses in Europe.

A Weakened Real Madrid, But One That Must Respond

Manchester City arrives with a complete squad and full rhythm. Real Madrid, meanwhile, is forced to rebuild on the fly, patching absences in every line.
Mbappé will start—wrapped, hurting, limited… but present.

And for a Madrid side fighting through one of the most difficult stretches of the season, that presence alone already feels like a small victory.