A recent report by "The Athletic" revealed that Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham might miss the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 match against Manchester City due to his ongoing recovery from a thigh tendon injury.

The newspaper mentioned that Real Madrid hopes Bellingham will be ready for the second leg scheduled for Tuesday, March 17. However, the match against Atletico Madrid five days later is considered a more realistic target for his return to the field.

The same source indicated that Kylian Mbappé is also not expected to participate in the first leg, and his status for the second leg remains uncertain due to a knee injury.

According to the newspaper, Bellingham traveled to London to consult a specialist about his injury, while Mbappe went to Paris to get a second opinion on his left knee injury, with members of Real Madrid's medical team present. The players are expected to return to the Spanish capital over the weekend.

The newspaper clarified that the return dates for the players have not yet been set, especially with Mbappe's ongoing knee pain since last December, which raises concerns about the injury worsening if he returns too early. Meanwhile, Bellingham has not participated since his injury in the 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano on February 1.

During the 2025/2026 season, Bellingham participated in 28 matches across all competitions with Real Madrid, scoring 6 goals and providing 4 assists, while Mbappe played 33 matches, scoring 38 goals and providing 6 assists.