Real Madrid confirmed starting XI against Manchester City in the Champions League

Real Madrid have left out Kylian Mbappé from the starting lineup against Manchester City after the French forward struggled with both knee and hand issues in the days leading up to the fixture.

The inclusion - or not - of Mbappé was the main question facing Xabi Alonso in terms of squad selection; in broader terms, the looming sword of Damocles continues to sway on the horizon, hitting the mountains that surround Madrid’s north side like a pendulum, a constant clanging in his ears.

Here’s the Real Madrid starting XI for the game against their English opponents:

Confirmed Real Madrid XI to face Man City:

Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Rüdiger, Carreras; Ceballos, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Gonzalo y Vinicius.

Real Madrid vs Manchester City: time, how to watch

On matchday six of the 2025/26 Champions League, Madrid and City meet at the Bernabéu on Wednesday, December 10, with kickoff scheduled for 3:00 p.m. ET/12 noon PT. Viewers in the U.S. will be able to watch the game on Paramount+.

And wherever you are in the world, you’ll have the option of following live-text coverage of the game, right here at AS USA.

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