Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti is confident that Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Antonio Rudiger and Dani Ceballos will all be available for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Arsenal on April 8.
UEFA are currently investigating the celebrations that took place following Real Madrid’s penalty-shootout success over Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their last-16 contest.
UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector is investigating the celebrations of Mbappe, Vinicius, Rudiger and Ceballos, and it has been suggested that all four could be suspended for the first leg of the quarter-final with Arsenal next month.
“A UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector has been appointed to investigate allegations of indecent conduct by Real Madrid CF players (Antonio Rüdiger, Kylian Mbappe, Daniel Ceballos Fernández and Vinicius Junior) during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match between Club Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid CF on 12 March 2025,” a statement read. “Further information regarding this matter will be made available in due course.”
Rudiger appeared to make a throat-slitting gesture to the Atletico fans, while Mbappe seemingly grabbed his crotch, but Ancelotti is confident that his players will not be found guilty of wrongdoing.
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Ancelotti confident Real Madrid quartet will be available against Arsenal
“We are confident on UEFA investigation. We wait for verdict, but our players didn’t do anything wrong. We are confident in UEFA’s verdict as the players had just celebrated, that’s it,” Ancelotti told reporters during his press conference on Friday.
Ceballos has recently been absent due to injury, and a muscular problem will again rule him out against Leganes on Saturday, but the Spaniard is on the verge of returning to fitness.
Real Madrid will be bidding to make it five straight wins when they take on Leganes, and they have ground to make up in La Liga, having fallen three points behind leaders Barcelona at the top of the table.
“The team is in pretty good shape. The players who have come back have had time to recovery. The closing stretch of the season starts tomorrow, we have a lot of games and we have to get it right,” said Ancelotti.
“We’re in every competition and that increases the responsibility placed on us. Every game could be decisive as we try and get our hands on the trophies we want to win.
“La Liga is not over. Barcelona hold the advantage but we have to play the Clásico and there are lots of games still to come. We have to do all we can, starting tomorrow. There are 13 games left, which could increase to 17. I hope that’s the case because it would mean we’re fighting in every competition right until the end.”
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Courtois will be missing against Leganes
Real Madrid will be missing Thibaut Courtois against Leganes due to muscular overload, while Ferland Mendy, Jesus Vallejo, Ceballos, Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal will also be absent this weekend.
“Courtois is a small thing, in a few days he can recover, and we expect Mendy and Ceballos in the Champions League first leg against Arsenal,” said the Italian during his press conference.
Real Madrid will also have Vinicius Junior available against Leganes despite his late return from international duty with Brazil, although Ancelotti has suggested that he is considering naming the forward on the bench.
