RB Salzburg vs. Real Madrid lineups, team news, score prediction: Mbappe likely to return

With both clubs holding a precarious grip on the qualifying positions in their Club World Cup group, Real Madrid and Red Bull Salzburg meet to determine the knockout participants in Philadelphia on Thursday.

The two sides are level atop the Group H standings on points, with Real Madrid holding a slim differential advantage. A draw would see Real Madrid qualify for the knockout stage, but would leave Salzburg vulnerable if Al Hilal pummel Pachuca in the other match.

Defeat for either club, meanwhile, would also put them in danger should Al Hilal pass their test.

This could be the return of Kylian Mbappe for his debut under new manager Xabi Alonso, with the French star having missed the first two games of the competition after falling ill.

The Sporting News runs through the latest team news and injury updates for both sides as the match draws nearer.

MORE: Xabi Alonso tactics taking shape at Real Madrid | Antonio Rudiger racial abuse claim being investigated

RB Salzburg vs. Real Madrid predicted lineups, team news

The biggest name to know in the RB Salzburg squad is 21-year-old attacking midfielder Oscar Gloukh, who already has 21 caps for Israel and has been linked with Liverpool in the last few years.

Ivorian defender Karim Konate is out after tearing his ACL back in November, while midfielder Nicolas Capaldo was not included on the roster while he recovers from a broken toe. Those are just two of a number of injuries that impacted the RB Salzburg squad for this competition.

That was worsened as Valentin Sulzbacher was withdrawn early in the second half of their opener with a thigh injury and missed the recent draw with Al Hilal.

RB Salzburg predicted XI (4-4-2, right to left): Zawieschitzky (GK) — Lainer, Gadou, Rasmussen, Kratzig — Dorgeles, Bidstrup, Diabate, Gloukh — Baidoo, Onisiwo.

Injured: Konate (ACL), Capaldo (foot), Kawamura (knee), Schlager (hand), Guindo (knee), Sulzbacher (thigh), Caufriez (back).
Suspended: None.
On a yellow card: Diabate, Kitano.

Full RB Salzburg squad

Goalkeepers: Salko Hamzic, Jonas Krumrey, Alexander Schlager, Christian Zawieschitzky

Defenders: Samson Baidoo, Joane Gadou, Frans Kraetzig, Stefan Lainer, John Mellberg, Jacob Rasmussen, Jannik Schuster, Tim Trummer

Midfielders: Mads Bidstrup, Soumaila Diabate, Mamady Diambou, Oscar Gloukh, Takumu Kawamura, Maurits Kjaergaard, Valentin Sulzbacher

Forwards: Enrique Aguilar, Edmund Baidoo, Adam Daghim, Sota Kitano, Dorgeles Nene, Karim Onisiwo, Petar Ratkov, Yorbe Vertessen, Moussa Yeo

Kylian Mbappe was hospitalised by a bout of gastroenteritis and missed the first two matches of the Club World Cup, but was discharged ahead of the Pachuca game and is likely to return. Given Madrid's qualification to the knockout stage and the good performances by Gonzalo Garcia in the first two games, Mbappe could be started on the bench and eased back in for future matches.

Endrick, the usual cover for Mbappe, did not travel due to a hamstring injury and remains sidelined as part of the lengthy absentee list. However, that eased somewhat as Antonio Rudiger returned from a knee injury in a late substitute appearance against Pachuca and may be eased back in.

Trent Alexander-Arnold could be rested after a grueling first two starts with the club, but with Dani Carvajal still out, there's very little cover at the right-back position. Jude Bellingham may be another candidate for rest, but midfield is also thin with Eduardo Camavinga still absent with a muscle injury of his own. Raul Asencio is suspended after his early red card against Pachuca.

MORE: All the latest Real Madrid news

Real Madrid predicted XI (4-3-3, right to left): Courtois (GK) — Valverde, Ramon, Huijsen, F. Garcia — Guler, Tchouameni, Ceballos — Rodrygo, G. Garcia, Vinicius Jr.

Injured: Mbappe (illness, doubt), Carvajal (knee), Camavinga (knee), Endrick hamstring), Militao (knee), Mendy (muscle).
Suspended: Asencio (red card).
On a yellow card: Vinicius Jr.

Full Real Madrid squad

Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Fran Gonzalez, Andriy Lunin, Sergio Mestre.

Defenders: Diego Aguado, David Alaba, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Raul Asencio, Dani Carvajal, Jesus Fortea, Fran Garcia, Dean Huijsen, Ferland Mendy, Eder Militao, Jacobo Ramon, Antonio Rudiger, Lucas Vazquez, Yusi.

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Ceballos, Chema, Arda Guler, Mario Martin, Luka Modric, Victor Munoz, Aurelien Tchouameni, Federico Valverde.

Forwards: Brahim Diaz, Endrick, Gonzalo Garcia, Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior.

RB Salzburg vs. Real Madrid score prediction

Real Madrid have improved slightly under Xabi Alonso, but there are clear growing pains still. While Madrid will know they have not yet qualified for the knockout stage, they won't be as motivated to win as RB Salzburg, as a draw sees them through.

Therefore, it wouldn't be shocking to see them look to simply hold firm and ease their way through with a point.

Prediction: RB Salzburg 2-2 Real Madrid

How to watch RB Salzburg vs. Real Madrid: Live stream, TV channel

Here's how to watch this Club World Cup group stage match across selected areas of the world's major regions: