Alvaro Arbeloa is hopeful that Kylian Mbappe will probably be lining up for Actual Madrid within the close to future after lacking their Champions League second-leg play-off victory over Benfica.
Mbappe, who’s the match’s prime scorer in 2025-26 with 13 objectives, was absent for Los Blancos throughout their 2-1 win over Benfica on Wednesday with a knee harm.
Nevertheless, it mattered little to the 15-time European champions, who got here from behind to win 3-1 on mixture because of objectives from Aurelien Tchouameni and Vinicius Junior.
Certainly, Madrid have now gained six of the final 9 events that they’ve conceded first in a Champions League residence recreation (D1 L2).
They’ve reached the final 16 of UEFA’s flagship competitors in all 23 seasons since that spherical started in 2003-04, and are the one aspect to attain that spectacular feat.
However with Arbeloa’s consideration already turning to Monday’s LaLiga conflict with Getafe, he offered an replace on the health of Mbappe.
“Yesterday he needed to go away coaching and on different days he has felt discomfort,” Arbeloa advised reporters.
“However after yesterday’s coaching, we spoke with medical doctors and determined he ought to cease, get well 100 per cent and are available again with confidence and with out discomfort.
“Any further, we’ll have to attend and see if it’s a matter of days, and it doesn’t take too lengthy, however he ought to take the time he wants.
“We have now a prognosis, however I don’t assume it’s my place to present that type of info.
“We’re very clear about what’s improper with him, what has been taking place to him, and what’s taking place to him proper now. We’re very clear about that.”
Our squad for the match!
@slbenfica_en pic.twitter.com/vidfy0nEKH— Actual Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) February 25, 2026
The second leg belonged to Vinicius, although, with the Brazilian’s Eightieth-minute strike seeing him rating in each legs of a two-legged Champions League knockout tie for the very first time for Madrid.
His good efficiency got here after a troublesome week off the pitch after he claimed he was racially abused by Gianluca Prestianni within the first leg, with the Benfica midfielder suspended by UEFA for one recreation.
Madrid additionally needed to make do with out Jude Bellingham, Eder Militao and Rodrygo, with Arbeloa applauding his workforce for battling towards adversity to progress to the following spherical.
“In fact not,” Arbeloa stated when requested if it was straightforward with out a number of of his big-name gamers. “With out Mbappe, Bellingham, Militao, Rodrygo, with out all of them, it’s more durable.
“That’s the reason immediately’s match is so necessary. To have gained each matches. And that with all these casualties, they’ve competed.”
Madrid’s reward for his or her win is a final 16 tie with both Sporting CP or Manchester Metropolis, with the latter changing into an everyday fixture within the latter levels of the Champions League.
Ought to Los Blancos draw Pep Guardiola’s aspect, will probably be the fifth consecutive season they’ve confronted them, and the primary because the LaLiga giants dumped Metropolis out of the competitors in final 12 months’s knockout play-off section with a 6-3 mixture win.
“The target was to be within the pot. Folks already have used to a Metropolis-Actual Madrid match,” the Madrid boss added.
“I’m certain it should occur once more. We don’t care, will probably be sophisticated realizing that the second leg is away from residence”.
