Mbappé and Bellingham Return to Boost Real Madrid Ahead of Big Derby Clash

March 22, 2026: Real Madrid will play against their city rivals, Atlético Madrid, at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in La Liga today at 2 pm. The Real Madrid coach, Álvaro Arbeloa, is happy because two important players, Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham, are back in the team for this big match.

Key Players Return Before Big Derby

Mbappé returned to play as a substitute against Manchester City after missing five matches due to a knee injury. He may start the match against Atlético Madrid. The coach said that Mbappé looks fully fit and his speed shows he is in good form. Having him back gives the team more confidence. Mbappé is the top scorer for Real this season with 38 goals in 34 matches.

Bellingham is also back after recovering from a hamstring injury. The coach said that Bellingham is a smart player and understands the game very well. He is ready to help the team in this derby match.

However, there is some bad news for Real Madrid. Their goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, is injured and will be out for a few weeks. Still, the coach trusts the backup goalkeeper, Andriy Lunin, and believes he will perform well.

Overall, even with some injuries, Real Madrid feels stronger with the return of Mbappé and Bellingham before this important match.

“Bellingham's available now; he'll be in the squad tomorrow. We'll see if he plays - I think he will. I'm really looking forward to seeing him on the pitch,” Arbeloa said before the match at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

Real Madrid are currently second in La Liga, four points behind FC Barcelona after 28 matches, while Atlético Madrid are in fourth place.

When asked if Kylian Mbappé had fully recovered from his knee injury or was still playing with discomfort because the team needed him, Arbeloa gave a clear answer:

“The day he returns, it's because he's 100%. The minutes we saw him play in Manchester, I think every single action showed he's in great shape.

Above all, it's about how he feels - that's what matters in the end. How he felt and how he's feeling in training. Maximum confidence, maximum assurance and maximum excitement to have such a game-changing player back.”

Mbappé is the top scorer in La Liga this season with 23 goals.

Bellingham has also been included in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for friendlies against Uruguay and Japan. Mbappé has been selected for the France national football team matches against Brazil and Colombia.

Speaking about their importance for club and country, Arbeloa said:

“They're incredibly important players for me, but they're just as important for their national team managers, especially with the World Cup coming up.

I've been lucky enough to represent my country and I know what it feels like - the pride and the responsibility that comes with it. I understand the situation perfectly, so no, there's no problem at all.”