Real Madrid face the huge test of an away derby with Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, and it’s one they may have to overcome without Kylian Mbappe.
Mbappe is reportedly set to undergo fitness tests to determine whether he will be able to play the Metropolitano, the France striker having suffered a blow to his right ankle in last weekend’s LaLiga win over Rayo Vallecano.
Madrid, who have yet to announce their official squad for the game, lead 2-1 from the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Mbappe’s absence would be a huge boost to Atletico, who held Madrid to a 1-1 draw in this fixture in LaLiga back in September, snatching a point thanks to Angel Correa’s 95th-minute equaliser.
But Atletico midfielder Rodrigo De Paul is under no illusion as to the level of quality Madrid have at their disposal, and he called on Diego Simeone’s side to maintain an insular focus as they look to overturn their first-leg deficit.
“Everything is fundamental, even more so for a tie like this,” De Paul told Diario AS.
“The mental part has its relevance, but also the tactical, the physical…. It is a set, it does not have to do with just one thing. We have to be prepared in all aspects to achieve what we want, which is to go through.
🙌 IT’S MATCHDAY! 🙌
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🕰 21:00 CET
🏟️ Metropolitano pic.twitter.com/22f2gSEuUL— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) March 12, 2025
“First, above all, when you face this type of match you have to enjoy them too, because you don’t always play them. Understanding that to achieve what we want we have to be all together, it does not depend on a player or a thing.
“Games of this magnitude are won as a team. Having experienced other important games, I am confident that this is a squad where we all feel important, in 90 minutes we need everyone, we are committed to the cause. And it can be a great night for all Atleticos.
“Real Madrid have all players of the highest level, that leads you to have concentration and concern about playing against them. [Jude] Bellingham has different characteristics, he can play, and [Luka] Modric, [Aurelien] Tchouameni too.
“They have different characteristics, but play at a very high level. I don’t look so much at who’s in front of me, because they’re great, as I do at what I have to do.”
De Paul suffered a knock as Atletico were beaten by Getafe at the weekend to fall a point behind Barcelona and Madrid in an extremely close LaLiga title race.
But he said of his physical condition: “I feel very well, it was a blow and it was only that. Nothing else.”
