Mbappe Recovery Time For Real Madrid As Benfica Tie Helps Champions League Progress

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Real Madrid advanced to the Champions League last 16 with a 2-1 home win over Benfica, yet attention quickly shifted to Kylian Mbappe’s fitness and future role. Alvaro Arbeloa confirmed the forward missed the second leg with a knee issue, but expressed hope that Mbappe will soon feature regularly for the 15-time European champions.

Mbappe remains the competition’s leading scorer in the 2025-26 season with 13 goals, underlining the scale of his absence on Wednesday. Real Madrid still overturned a first-leg deficit and secured a 3-1 aggregate success, thanks to second-leg goals from Aurelien Tchouameni and Vinicius Junior at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Real Madrid’s comeback against Benfica continued a strong pattern in Europe. They have now won six of the last nine Champions League home matches in which they conceded first, drawing one and losing two. The club has reached the last 16 in every season since the format began in 2003-04, a run of 23 campaigns unmatched by any other side.

The reward for eliminating Benfica is a last 16 tie against either Sporting CP or Manchester City. Manchester City have become familiar opposition for Real Madrid in recent seasons. If paired again, it would be the fifth straight Champions League campaign in which the clubs meet, and the first since Real Madrid’s 6-3 aggregate victory in last year’s knockout play-off phase.

Arbeloa stressed that reaching the draw was the main target, even with possible meetings against Manchester City. "The objective was to be in the pot. People have already got used to a City-Real Madrid match," the Madrid boss added. "I’m sure it will happen again. We don’t care, it will be complicated knowing that the second leg is away from home."

Attention inside the club now turns quickly from Champions League duties to domestic competition. Real Madrid face Getafe in LaLiga on Monday, and Mbappe’s status is a central concern. Arbeloa outlined how recent training sessions shaped the decision to leave the forward out of the Benfica match and focus on recovery.

Real Madrid Champions League campaign and Kylian Mbappe injury update

Arbeloa described how Mbappe’s knee problem developed across the week. "Yesterday he had to leave training and on other days he has felt discomfort," Arbeloa told reporters. "But after yesterday’s training, we spoke with doctors and decided he should stop, recover 100 per cent and come back with confidence and without discomfort."

The coach explained that medical staff had already identified the issue, but chose not to reveal specifics publicly. "From now on, we’ll have to wait and see if it’s a matter of days, and it doesn’t take too long, but he should take the time he needs. We have a diagnosis, but I don’t think it’s my place to give that kind of information. We are very clear about what is wrong with him, what has been happening to him, and what is happening to him right now. We are very clear about that."

Real Madrid Champions League win, Vinicius Junior and missing stars

Against Benfica, Vinicius Junior produced the decisive moment with an 80th-minute strike, completing the turnaround on the night. The goal meant Vinicius scored in both legs of a Champions League knockout tie for Real Madrid for the first time, underscoring the forward’s growing influence on the European stage.

Vinicius delivered that display after a difficult build-up. The Brazilian had alleged racial abuse from Gianluca Prestianni during the first leg. UEFA responded by suspending the Benfica midfielder for one match. Despite the off-field tension, Vinicius maintained focus and provided the crucial goal that sealed Real Madrid’s passage.

Real Madrid were also without Jude Bellingham, Eder Militao and Rodrygo, adding to Mbappe’s absence. Arbeloa praised the group for managing those setbacks while still winning both legs against Benfica. "Of course not," Arbeloa said when asked if it was easy without several of his big-name players. "Without Mbappe, Bellingham, Militao, Rodrygo, without all of them, it’s harder. That is why today’s match is so important. To have won both matches. And that with all these casualties, they have competed."

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The Benfica tie, the injury situation and the possible reunion with Manchester City all shape Real Madrid’s wider campaign. With progress secured and key players recovering, Arbeloa aims to manage minutes and fitness before the next Champions League round. The team’s response against Benfica, despite multiple absences, keeps Real Madrid firmly positioned among the leading contenders in Europe.