Brothers Kylian and Ethan Mbappé will face off in the Champions League, away from PSG, without the anticipated initial spotlight as Real Madrid visits Lille in the second matchday of Europe's top club competition. Kylian, Madrid's key offensive player, has just recovered from a muscle injury.

Kylian Mbappé surprised everyone by cutting short his recovery time from a femoral bicep muscle injury suffered last Tuesday against Alavés. Initially given a three-week recovery period, he joined the squad just seven days later, making his first return to France. However, whether he’ll play in the match remains uncertain.

Carlo Ancelotti doesn't need to rush him. Real Madrid started their European title defense with a new Champions League format, winning against Stuttgart (3-1). Despite not losing, they've drawn three of their four away matches this season, highlighting a need for improvement.

The recent draw at the Metropolitano left a bitter taste, losing a win in the final minute of added time, and the relaxed performance against Alavés, where they surrendered two goals, has shifted concerns from lacking first-half goals to their end-of-match attitude.

Real Madrid's current streaks remain strong, continuing their success from last season's big titles. They are 40 games unbeaten in LaLiga EA Sports and 36 across all competitions. They haven't lost in the Champions League since May 17, 2023, their last semi-final knockout, and have played fourteen matches since.

This marks Real Madrid’s first encounter with Lille,  featuring Andriy Lunin in goal and Eduardo Camavinga in midfield. Following Thibaut Courtois’s injury in a derby, where he was targeted by objects from the stands causing a game interruption, Lunin will start for the first time post-contract renewal.

Camavinga boosts Real Madrid’s midfield. After a knee sprain kept him out before the UEFA Super Cup final, he'll aim to secure a starting spot as he overcomes early-season absence anxiety. Without Mbappé starting, Ancelotti plans to strengthen midfield, integrating Tchouaméni, Fede Valverde, and Camavinga together, unless he unexpectedly includes Arda Güler, who’s seen reduced play lately. Luka Modric, heavily fatigued post-derby, might have fewer chances.

For Lille, hosting the European champions is a festive affair, their first time back in the major continental competition in two years, albeit amidst challenging circumstances due to numerous team absences, particularly in midfield.

Ranked fifth after a solid 3-0 win at Le Havre last Saturday, coach Bruno Genesio faces a tough task fielding a strong side against the 'Merengues.' Out due to injuries are Hakon Haraldsson, Ngal'ayer Mukau, and Nabil Bentaleb, along with Angel Gomes, suspended after being ejected against Sporting Lisbon.

Captain Benjamin André stands as the sole experienced player in midfield, pushing Genesio to consider relying on promising youngster Ayyoub Bouaddi, who would celebrate his 17th birthday with a start against Real Madrid. Despite Bouaddi's talent, his youth and inexperience against a team like Madrid may be too risky, prompting Genesio to potentially use central defender Aïssa Mandi in midfield instead.

Ethan Mbappé will also miss out due to an injury from the match against Le Havre, preventing him from facing brother Kylian, should he play at Pierre Mauroy.

Nonetheless, Lille's coach aims to cause an upset and reinvigorate the modest French club's European campaign, after a 2-0 defeat in Lisbon in the opening matchday. Canadian Jonathan David’s impressive season, with seven goals in eleven matches, offers hope to Lille, as he edges towards becoming one of the club's top scorers in history.