HOT: Real 'faces disaster' ahead of the major clash with Man City in the Champions League

Just before the big showdown with Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid has encountered unfortunate news regarding their squad, significantly disrupting the plans of the Royal club.

According to reports from L'Équipe, Kylian Mbappé is highly likely to miss Real Madrid's upcoming two matches during his injury recovery process. This means the French forward is almost certain not to feature in the crucial match against Manchester City at the Bernabeu, as well as the La Liga fixture against Elche CF at the weekend.

This information forces Real Madrid's coaching staff to reconsider their personnel strategy for the UEFA Champions League knockout first leg at 3 a.m. on March 12. Mbappé is still in the recovery phase and hasn't reached optimal physical condition for high-intensity play. Therefore, the Spanish Royal club does not want to risk using their most crucial attacking star.

Nevertheless, the medical team at Valdebebas remains optimistic about Mbappé's potential return. According to the plan, the French forward could recover in time to participate in the second leg against Manchester City at the Etihad next week. However, Real Madrid maintains a cautious stance and will only bring him back when his injury condition is fully stabilized.

Another factor that could influence the decision to use Mbappé is the result of the first leg. If Real Madrid suffers a heavy defeat against Manchester City, the Spanish club might not risk deploying Mbappé in the second leg. The coaching staff wants to avoid any risk of a recurrence of the injury for the striker born in 1998.

Meanwhile, sources from MARCA indicate that Mbappé is actually racing against time to return earlier than expected. During his recovery period in France, the forward is closely monitored by two physical therapy specialists from Real Madrid to ensure the treatment process follows the correct schedule.

Reports from Spain also show that Mbappé still has several crucial training sessions before the second leg match against Manchester City to test the load-bearing capacity of his knee. Despite a strong desire to play in the big match, Real Madrid's coaching staff prioritizes safety. The final decision regarding Mbappé's availability is likely to be made close to kick-off time.