Nine players could miss Real Madrid vs City as star striker faces nervous wait

CommentsSportRoss Jackson Head of Football10:49, 11 Mar 2026Updated 13:07, 11 Mar 2026Manchester City meet their old foes Real Madrid this evening as the pair battle it out in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie.

Both sides have had their struggles at times this season, with Real Madrid sacking Xabi Alonso earlier in the campaign. Alvaro Arbeloa has steadied the ship since his appointment but Real have still lost two of their previous four games. City, meanwhile, have threatened to put together one of their formidable runs that have seen them clinch so many pieces of silverware, but they've shown they're still susceptible to the odd slip-up.

Tonight's game promises to be a fascinating encounter, and both sides have thier injury problems. Here's a look at the players who could miss out tonight due to injury.

Josko Gvardiol will play no part in tonight's game having suffered a fracture to his right leg during the 1-1 draw with Chelsea in January. Mateo Kovacic is another who has spent a significant spell in the treatment room and he is also unavailable tonight, although he is back in team training and so there's a hope a return could be on the horizon.

Max Alleyne is continuing his comeback from a knock and he has been included in the travelling squad, as has Erling Haaland after he sat out the FA Cup victory over Newcastle on Saturday.

List of City absentees due to injury: Gvardiol, Kovacic

So, City aren't without their injury concerns but tonight's opposition have far more problems. Kylian Mbappe is back in training after injury but tonight could come too soon for Real's talisman. Arbeloa has said he expects to have the Frenchman back "very soon" but refused to confirm whether he would play against City.

Jude Bellingham has been missing with a hamstring injury since last month and is not expected to play tonight, while Rodrygo will also miss the game after undergoing surgery on his ACL.

Former Manchester United left-back Alvaro Fernandez could sit out the Bernabeu clash with a calf problem, and David Alaba is in a similar situation having missed the weekend win over Celta Vigo with a calf injury.

Dani Ceballos picked up an injury in the defeat to Osasuna in February and is not expected back any time soon. Éder Militão rounds off the Real injury list and he too will play no part this evening.

Possible list of Real absentees due to injury: Mbappe, Bellingham, Rodrygo, Fernandez, Alaba, Ceballos, Militao