Mbappe omitted from Real squad for Benfica second leg after suffering injury setback

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mbappe-kylian/Wn6E2SED/"]Mbappe[/a] has been nursing a ‌knee injury which caused him to ‌miss games in December and January while he also did not play in ‌their LaLiga game against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-sociedad/jNvak2f3/"]Real ⁠Sociedad[/a] earlier this ‌month.[/p][p]The 27-year-old French forward is the club's ​top scorer this season with 38 goals, including 23 in LaLiga ​and 13 in the Champions League.[/p][p]Real listed only [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vinicius-junior/CbwQ4Mws/"]Vinicius Jr[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/garcia-gonzalo/pWxyEyDA/"]Gonzalo Garcia[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/diaz-brahim/nm2Qvnyk/"]⁠Brahim Diaz[/a] ​and 18-year-old [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mastantuono-franco/tpBPaidM/"]Franco Mastantuono[/a] as forwards for the game at the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/valverde-federico/nscfER6B/"]Santiago Bernabeu[/a].[/p][embed guid="f6bcfee9-e974-4cb0-902f-ccf0bfe24f89" url="https://x.com/realmadriden/status/2026612687107420338" social-type="twitter" /][p]Real lead 1-0 on aggregate after Vinicius ‌scored a second-half winner in the first leg that was marred by a racism controversy involving the Brazilian, who alleged that [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/benfica/zBkyuyRI/"]Benfica[/a]'s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/prestianni-gianluca/C2bbqoRj/"]Gianluca Prestianni[/a] had directed a racist slur at him.[/p][h2]UEFA dismiss Benfica appeal[/h2][p]UEFA provisionally suspended Prestianni for one match, but the Argentine winger travelled with ‌the squad after Benfica appealed against ​the suspension.[/p][p]However, UEFA's appeals body said later on Wednesday that they had dismissed the appeal.[/p][p]"[b]Mr Gianluca Prestianni remains provisionally suspended for the next UEFA club competition match for which he would otherwise be eligible[/b]," UEFA said in a ‌statement.[/p][p]Benfica will also be without head coach Jose ​Mourinho, who is suspended after receiving a red ‌card in the first leg.[/p][p]Real midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bellingham-jude/QNvlPm7s/"]Jude Bellingham[/a] remains unavailable ‌due to a hamstring injury while forward [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rodrygo/zPUyR5Up/"]Rodrygo[/a] is serving a two-match ban for insulting a match official in a 4-2 loss to ⁠Benfica during the ⁠group stage.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/soccer/europe/champions-league/"]Follow the Champions League play-offs here![/a][/b][/p]