Mbappé Expected to Travel for Real Madrid’s Champions League Clash at Manchester City

• Kylian Mbappé is expected to travel for Real Madrid CF’s Champions League second leg at Manchester City F.C..
• Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa said the forward is recovering well from a knee sprain.
• Mbappé missed the first-leg win in which Federico Valverde scored a hat trick.

Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa said he expects Kylian Mbappé to travel with the squad for next week’s Champions League round-of-16 second leg against Manchester City.

Mbappé was absent from Madrid’s 3-0 victory in the first leg at the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday as he continues to recover from a sprain in his left knee. The France international has been dealing with the injury since December.

Speaking ahead of Madrid’s LaLiga match with Elche CF, Arbeloa said the forward is progressing well and could return in time for the decisive fixture in Manchester.

“[Mbappé] is getting better every day,” Arbeloa said. “His development is progressing as it should. We made a plan. It depends on his progress, but I think he’s doing very well. He won’t be available tomorrow, but I expect he’ll travel to Manchester.”

Mbappé has scored 38 goals in all competitions this season for Real Madrid, but the knee issue has forced him to miss several key matches. Those include Madrid’s league-phase meeting with Manchester City, most of the Spanish Supercopa, and the second leg of their Champions League playoff against SL Benfica.

Arbeloa declined to comment on whether Mbappé should rest during the upcoming international break with France national football team, saying the immediate focus remains on club commitments.

“That’s a long way off,” Arbeloa said. “I want him to be able to travel to Manchester. Let’s see tomorrow and on Sunday, when we’ll make a final decision. Let’s hope he’s there, and that he’s there against Atlético Madrid.”

Madrid face Atlético Madrid in a LaLiga derby later this month, adding to a demanding run of fixtures.

Despite the upcoming European tie, Arbeloa said he plans to field a strong lineup against Elche this weekend.

“Tomorrow we’ll field the best possible XI to win,” he said. “I’m not thinking about anything else. The players have to end each match completely exhausted. It’s their job. They have to be ready to fight like they did on Wednesday.”

The Madrid coach also praised goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after his decisive performance in the first leg against Manchester City, including a point-blank save that preserved the three-goal advantage.

“I’ve played with some of the best goalkeepers in the world,” Arbeloa said. “But what Courtois does is unmatched. In my opinion, there is no debate. He is the best goalkeeper in Real Madrid’s history.”