Alvaro Arbeloa has officially announced the squad that will travel to Germany for our monumental Champions League quarterfinal return leg against Bayern Munich.
With the tie hanging in the balance, every single detail matters. The official list brings a massive sigh of relief regarding our star forward, but also confirms a couple of notable absences in the squad heading to the Allianz Arena.
The Big News: Mbappe Travels!
The best news coming out of Valdebebas today is the inclusion of Kylian Mbappé.
Following the terrifying elbow and subsequent facial stitches he received against Girona, there were genuine fears he might miss this defining European night. However, our number 9 has been given the green light to travel. Whether he is fit enough to start or will be used as a devastating weapon off the bench remains to be seen, but just having his name on the list is a huge psychological boost for the team.
Notable Absences: Midfield and Defense Take a Hit
While the attack receives a boost, the squad list confirms that we will be a bit light in other areas:
- Aurelien Tchouameni: The French midfield engine will sit this one out. He is serving a one-match suspension after picking up a crucial yellow card in the first leg. Arbeloa will have to lean heavily on the likes of Camavinga, Valverde, and Bellingham to control the center of the park.
- Raúl Asencio: The highly-rated defender has unfortunately come down with a virus and will remain in the Spanish capital to recover.
Official Real Madrid Squad List
Goalkeepers: Lunin, Fran González, Javi Navarro. Defenders: Carvajal, Militão, Alaba, Trent, Á. Carreras, Fran García, Rüdiger, Mendy, Huijsen. Midfielders: Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, Arda Güler, D. Ceballos, Thiago. Forwards: Vini Jr., Mbappé, Gonzalo, Brahim, Mastantuono.
How Arbeloa Might Line Up
Without Tchouameni, the tactical setup against Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern will be fascinating. Does Arbeloa deploy Camavinga as the sole pivot, or will we see a double pivot to shield the backline at the Allianz Arena? Furthermore, the inclusion of young talents like Gonzalo and Mastantuono alongside our established superstars shows that the manager trusts La Fábrica on the biggest stages if called upon.
This is the Champions League. This is what we live for.
Match Information & Where to Watch
Time: 21:00 CET | 03:00 PM EST Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany Available TV/Streaming: Movistar Liga Campeones (Spain) | Paramount+, DAZN, Amazon Prime Video (USA)