Mbappé, who has 25 goals for Madrid this season and leads both La Liga and the Champions League in scoring, has been managing a left leg ailment, according to Spanish media reports. His availability will be closely monitored ahead of the high-stakes encounter at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Madrid comes into the match on a mixed run of form, having won only two of their last seven games across all competitions. The team suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Celta Vigo on Sunday in La Liga but rebounded with a 4-3 victory at Olympiakos in the Champions League after a 1-0 loss at Liverpool.
“We’ve drawn our conclusions about the Celta game, and now we’re only thinking about City,” Alonso said Tuesday. “It’s the Champions League, we’re playing at the Bernabéu, and I’m sure the atmosphere will be special and different because of the energy that is created. That’s what’s in our heads right now.”
Madrid sits fifth in the group stage of the Champions League, two points ahead of ninth-place Manchester City, making Wednesday’s match crucial for their progression. Sunday’s loss to Celta marked Madrid’s first home defeat of the season, intensifying scrutiny on Alonso and his squad.
Alonso addressed rumors suggesting unrest in the locker room, dismissing claims that players are dissatisfied with his leadership. “This is a team, and we all stand together,” he said. “When you’re a Real Madrid coach, you have to be prepared to enjoy these situations calmly and responsibly. I’m looking forward to everything that’s to come, which starts tomorrow.”
Midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni echoed Alonso’s sentiment, stressing that the recent struggles are a collective responsibility. “We’re all together. If we want to win games, we all have to fight—coach and team in the same direction,” he said. “Against Celta, the coach had a good game plan, but the players are the ones on the pitch. If we play at our level, we have a better chance of winning.”
In addition to Mbappé, Madrid will be missing defender Éder Militão, who was injured in the first half against Celta, while midfielder Eduardo Camavinga also trained separately on Tuesday. Alonso will need to manage a squad with multiple absences as the team looks to bounce back against a formidable City side.