Kylian Mbappe, the star forward for Real Madrid, has been ruled out of the upcoming La Liga match against Real Betis due to a knee injury. Nonetheless, there are indications that he may be fast-tracked for a return in next week’s highly anticipated Spanish Super Cup semifinal against Atletico Madrid, according to manager Xabi Alonso.
The 27-year-old French captain sustained a sprain in his left knee and had initially been expected to face a recovery period of at least three weeks. However, Alonso is hopeful that Mbappe will make a quicker comeback, saying, “We’re going to be pushing the deadlines; it’s very much a matter of feelings. When is as soon as possible? That’s the question. I don’t know. The Super Cup? We hope.”
Real Madrid has seen a dip in form recently, highlighted by drawing three consecutive league games and suffering an unexpected loss to Celta Vigo in December. This has allowed reigning champions Barcelona to pull ahead by four points in the title race. The loss of Mbappe is a significant blow, but Alonso emphasized the need for the team to rally around those who will be taking the field on Sunday, stating, “We’ll definitely miss Kylian… we have to have a lot of faith in those who are going to play tomorrow.”
Adding to the team’s challenges is the current form of Brazilian winger Vinicius Jr., who has not scored since October and has only five goals across all competitions this season, a stark contrast to his 22 goals last year. Alonso reassured fans about Vinicius’s mental state, noting, “Vini looks fine to me, cheerful and smiling.”
As Real Madrid prepares for the match against Real Betis, there is an underlying hope that the team can regain their rhythm and enthusiasm, which will be essential for their title aspirations moving forward. With Mbappe’s potential return on the horizon, fans have something to look forward to as the team navigates this challenging period.