Real Madrid faces a severe injury crisis ahead of their crucial clash against Manchester City. While coach Álvaro Arbeloa had previously been without several key players, he was initially hopeful that Kylian Mbappé and Carreras could participate. However, hopes were dashed when it was confirmed that neither player would be fit for the match. Mbappé, who recently returned from Paris where he sought a second opinion on his knee injury, trained alone and did not manage to engage in any ball work, prompting the coaching staff to finalize his absence from this important fixture.

The situation is similar for Carreras, who shares the same fate of being unable to play after carrying an injury. This growing list of absentees poses a significant challenge for the Real Madrid squad as they prepare to take on one of Europe's strongest teams. The absence of such talented players will force the coach to rethink his strategy and lineup, which could impact the team's performance against Manchester City.

Real Madrid will be hoping for a swift recovery for both players, especially as they prepare for the return leg of the knockout stage next week at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester. Their focus will now shift toward managing the current roster while maximizing the potential of those who are fit to play, as they aim to compete at the highest level despite these setbacks.