Kylian Mbappé will start in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 between Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at the Estadio Metropolitano. Despite recent concerns over his right ankle injury, the French forward has been included in Carlo Ancelotti’s starting XI for this crucial match.

Mbappé’s Injury Update

Incident: Mbappé suffered a knock to his right ankle during the LaLiga match against Rayo Vallecano.
Doubt for the Match: He missed full training sessions leading up to the Madrid derby.
Final Decision: After undergoing medical evaluations and a fitness test on the morning of the game, he was declared fit to play.

Ancelotti expressed his confidence in Mbappé’s recovery, emphasizing his importance in the squad. Meanwhile, Diego Simeone’s Atlético is preparing to face a full-strength Real Madrid attack.

Match Details

Competition: UEFA Champions League – Round of 16 (Second Leg)
Date: Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Kickoff: 21:00 CET (15:00 ET)
Venue: Estadio Metropolitano, Madrid

Probable Lineups

Atletico Madrid (4-4-2)

GK: Jan Oblak
DEF: Marcos Llorente – José María Giménez – Robin Le Normand – Javi Galán
MID: Giuliano Simeone – Rodrigo De Paul – Pablo Barrios – Samuel Lino
FWD: Antoine Griezmann – Julián Álvarez

Real Madrid (4-3-3)

GK: Thibaut Courtois
DEF: Federico Valverde – Antonio Rüdiger – Asencio – Ferland Mendy
MID: Aurélien Tchouaméni – Luka Modrić – Jude Bellingham
FWD: Rodrygo – Kylian Mbappé – Vinícius Júnior