Gianluigi Donnarumma believes Manchester City hold an advantage in their Champions League round-of-16 first-leg meeting with Real Madrid due to the absence of forward Kylian Mbappé. Speaking ahead of the tie in Madrid, the goalkeeper pointed to the influence and quality that Mbappé typically brings to any team and acknowledged that facing Real Madrid without the France international changes the balance of the contest.
Donnarumma, who has faced Mbappé numerous times at club and international level, noted that the forward’s pace, goal-scoring threat and ability to decide big matches are difficult to fully replace. He indicated that Manchester City’s defenders would have one fewer major threat to manage in open play and on the counterattack, and suggested that this naturally provides some benefit to the English champions as they prepare for the first leg.
At the same time, Donnarumma stressed that Real Madrid remain a formidable opponent even without Mbappé. He highlighted the depth and experience within the Spanish club’s squad and pointed out that Real Madrid have a long history of adjusting to injuries or absences in key positions. According to the goalkeeper, other attacking players will be asked to step up, and City cannot afford to underestimate the variety and quality that Madrid can still deploy in the final third.
Donnarumma’s comments reflect how highly Mbappé is regarded across European football. The forward is widely seen as one of the most decisive players in the Champions League, capable of changing the course of a tie in a single moment. Without him, Real Madrid may have to adopt a slightly different approach in attack, relying more on collective movement and combinations rather than the individual explosiveness Mbappé provides.
As both sides prepare for the first leg of this knockout matchup, Donnarumma’s remarks underline a key storyline around the tie: how Real Madrid adapt without one of their most dangerous players, and how Manchester City look to capitalize on even the smallest margin at this stage of the competition.
