Kylian Mbappe is available for selection as Real Madrid aim to overturn a 3-0 first-leg Champions League quarter-final deficit against Arsenal tonight.
Mbappe was dismissed in the first half of Los Blancos’ hard-fought 1-0 win in LaLiga at the weekend, with his initial yellow card for a bad challenge on Alaves midfielder Antonio Blanco upgraded to red following a VAR review.
CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW REAL MADRID VS ARSENAL LIVE!
The Frenchman is set to be absent for Real Madrid’s next domestic outing at home to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, but he remains available for European competition and will start as usual against Arsenal as Carlo Ancelotti looks to him to lead their attempts to overturn a shock 3-0 deficit after last week’s horror show at the Emirates.
Mbappe starts alongside Vinicius Jr in attack for Madrid, with the latter having played only half an hour off the bench against Alaves in preparation for Arsenal.
It was a similar case for Jude Bellingham, who also returns to Ancelotti’s starting lineup at the Santiago Bernabeu. He and Rodrygo completes the attack.
Thibaut Courtois starts in goal as usual for Madrid, with Antonio Rudiger partnered by Raul Asencio at centre-back.
David Alaba is the choice for Ancelotti at left-back with Ferland Mendy still injured, while Federico Valverde is pushed into midfield as Lucas Vazquez goes in at right-back.
Aurelien Tchouameni is back after missing the trip to north London through a ban.
Confirmed team news
Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Vazquez, Asencio, Rudiger, Alaba; Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Vinicius, Mbappe, Rodrygo
Subs: Fran Gonzalez, Sergio Mestre, Modric, Ardu Guler, Endrick, Vallejo, Ceballos, Fran Garcia, Brahim
Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Merino
Subs: Neto, Setford, Tierney, White, Zinchenko, Rosiak, Henry-Francis, Trossard, Butler-Oyedeji, Gower, Sterling, Nwaneri
Time and date: 8pm BST on Wednesday April 16, 2025
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
How to watch: TNT Sports 1
