Kylian Mbappe targeting surprise return against Man City

Kylian Mbappe faces a race to be fit for Real Madrid’s Champions League round of 16 first leg against Manchester City after returning to Madrid on Sunday. He spent several days in France receiving specialist treatment for a left-knee issue and was accompanied by two of the club’s physiotherapists while there, leaving his participation uncertain as medical staff assess his progress.

The forward has two full training sessions, on Monday and Tuesday, to show his knee can cope with the demands of a high-stakes meeting with Pep Guardiola’s side. Mbappe wants to play, but technical and medical staff must weigh the risk of a setback versus the reward of having their leading attacking threat available; a final decision is expected after Tuesday’s pre-match session.

There has been talk of a "positive evolution" during his stay in France, though the limited time before kick-off is the main obstacle.

France, Madrid

kylian mbappe, real madrid, manchester city, champions league, r16, left knee, physiotherapists, pep guardiola, pre-match session, fitness test