Real Madrid Star Suffers Hamstring Injury in Manchester City Victory

Ferland Mendy forced off at halftime with injury that "does not look good", leaving Real Madrid short-handed at left-back.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 12:20am

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Real Madrid secured a 3-0 win over Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie, but the victory came at a cost as defender Ferland Mendy suffered a hamstring injury and had to be substituted at halftime. Manager Alvaro Arbeloa confirmed the injury "does not look good" and said Real Madrid will run medical tests on Thursday to determine the extent of the issue.

Why it matters

Mendy's injury is a significant blow for Real Madrid, who were already missing several key players including Alvaro Carreras, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe. With Mendy potentially facing another spell on the sidelines, Arbeloa will have to find a solution at left-back for this weekend's match against Elche and potentially the second leg against Manchester City.

The details

Mendy started the match against Manchester City after playing 90 minutes in Real Madrid's previous victory over Celta Vigo. However, his body broke down in the first half, forcing him to be substituted at halftime with Fran Garcia coming on in his place. Arbeloa said Mendy's injury "does not look good", raising concerns about the defender facing another lengthy layoff.

  • Mendy was forced off at halftime of the match against Manchester City on March 12, 2026.
  • Real Madrid will run medical tests on Mendy on Thursday, March 13, 2026 to determine the extent of the injury.

The players

Ferland Mendy

A defender for Real Madrid who suffered a hamstring injury during the team's Champions League match against Manchester City.

Alvaro Arbeloa

The manager of Real Madrid who confirmed Mendy's injury "does not look good" and said the team will run medical tests to determine the extent of the issue.

Fran Garcia

The La Fabrica graduate who replaced Mendy in the second half of the match against Manchester City.

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What they’re saying

“Mendy's injury 'does not look good'”

— Alvaro Arbeloa, Real Madrid Manager

What’s next

Real Madrid will put Ferland Mendy through medical tests on Thursday, March 13, 2026 to determine the extent of his hamstring injury and whether he will be available for the second leg against Manchester City next week.

The takeaway

Mendy's injury is a significant setback for Real Madrid, who are already dealing with several key absences. The team will have to find a solution at left-back for their upcoming match against Elche and potentially the second leg against Manchester City, putting added pressure on the squad's depth.