Real Madrid News
Real Madrid superstar expected to be available vs Bayern Munich amid injury fears
Real Madrid will travel to Munich for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final this week with one of their biggest injury scares now seemingly behind them.
Kylian Mbappe had emerged from Friday’s 1-1 draw with Girona in concerning fashion, leaving the pitch bloodied after a brutal collision late in the game.
Mbappe set to face Bayern
Despite the visible nature of the injury, it appears there is some encouraging news surrounding Mbappe’s fitness ahead of the second leg tie against Bayern Munich.
According to Mario Cortegana of The Athletic (h/t RM4Arab), Mbappe is not injured and is expected to be available for the second leg against Bayern Munich.
The official club website confirmed he had stitches in his right eyebrow following the Girona match and was kept off the training pitch as a precautionary measure due to pain, but there is no structural concern.
With the tie still very much alive, Mbappe’s availability will be a significant boost for Carlo Ancelotti’s side as they look to progress to the semi-finals.
What happened against Girona
In the 88th minute, the French forward drove into the penalty area before colliding with Vitor Reis. Mbappe appeared to be caught by the defender’s outstretched arm and elbow, sending him crashing to the ground.
The Real Madrid star required treatment above his right eye, and the incident only deepened the frustration of a night that ended with Madrid dropping two crucial points in the title race.
The controversy did not end there. The official La Liga broadcast hadn’t shared a single photo or video showcasing Mbappe bleeding, with the extent of the injury only becoming clear afterwards through photographs.
La Liga denied any censorship, claiming the omission was due to camera angle limitations at the time of the incident.
In a season where Real Madrid have largely struggled to keep pace with leaders Barcelona, Arda Guler has been one of the few bright sparks.
Despite his limited minutes, the Turkish international has shown that he is capable of becoming a first-team regular for Los Blancos, especially at a time when others, including Vinicius Jr. are struggling to make an impact.
Guler was notably named in Real Madrid’s five-player star of the month for September and the player could soon be rewarded with a contract extension as well.
New contract for Arda Guler
According to AS, Guler has agreed terms for a new deal at Real Madrid, in what could be the club’s first major renewal for the new season.
The young Turk’s current deal at the Bernabeu expires in 2029. But the renewal will ensure his future at the club at least until 2031.
The new contract will effectively acknowledge Guler’s growing role in the Real Madrid first-team and include a salary-increase.
The negotiations between the two parties had started last month and has now come to fruition, with Guler more than happy to continue his chapter at Real Madrid.
He also joins a long list of Real Madrid players with long-term contracts, including Yan Diomande, Vinicius Jr., Marc Cucurella, Aurelien Tchouameni and others.
An important season ahead
With the contract likely to be finalised soon, Arda Guler’s main goal will be continue to his form when the season restarts next weekend.
The forward has been involved in four goals in seven matches this season. With Vinicius and Diomande struggling for form, the Turkish international will have an excellent opportunity to become a regular starter for Jose Mourinho throughout the course of the campaign.
Mourinho, for his part, must identify how to get the best out of both Guler and an in-form Jude Bellingham. If the two can somehow work together in the final third, Real Madrid could find themselves dominating most matches.
