With just days left before the Copa del Rey final, Real Madrid find themselves anxiously monitoring the fitness of their star forward. Will Kylian Mbappe be ready to face Barcelona in a showdown that could define Madrid’s season? Manager Carlo Ancelotti has weighed in—bringing both hope and suspense to the capital.
Kylian Mbappe’s injury saga began in dramatic fashion during Real Madrid’s Champions League quarter-final clash against Arsenal. The French superstar limped off the pitch in the 75th minute of the second leg after an awkward fall under pressure from Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice. The image of Mbappe grimacing in pain sent shockwaves through the Los Blancos fanbase.
The fallout from the injury wasn’t just physical. During Madrid’s 1-0 win over Athletic, in which midfielder Federico Valverde scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner, Mbappe’s image flashed on the Bernabeu’s big screen—and was met with whistles from some in the crowd.
But Ancelotti was quick to defend his talisman. “Mbappe is hurting because of his injury, because he cannot help the team – he’s doing everything he can to be ready for Saturday [Copa del Rey final],” said the Madrid boss. “He is upset because he wants to help the team. He is doing everything he can to recover and be there on Saturday.”
Comeback begins
There was a flicker of hope this week. Both Mbappe and left-back Ferland Mendy returned to training on Tuesday, raising optimism about their availability for Saturday’s Copa del Rey final in Seville. Although neither was ready for Wednesday’s La Liga fixture against Getafe, their reappearance on the pitch was seen as a positive step forward.
“They’re not ready for tomorrow, but they’ll be training these days, and I think they’ll both be available for Saturday’s game,” Ancelotti confirmed in his Tuesday press conference.
Still, Real Madrid is treading carefully, unwilling to rush either player back before they’re ready. With only two realistic chances for silverware left—the La Liga title and Copa del Rey—the club is keen to preserve its big guns for the decisive moments.
Will Mbappe be ready for the Copa del Rey final?
All eyes now turn to Saturday. The Copa del Rey final against arch-rivals Barcelona looms large, and Mbappe’s availability could very well tip the scales. Scoring a decisive goal in a Clasico final would not only earn the Frenchman his first domestic trophy in white but also instantly elevate him to cult hero status at the Bernabeu.
“It’s a race against time,” wrote Rodrigo Gonzalez in Marca, referring to Mbappe’s “miraculous recovery.” What would normally be a two-week injury has been treated with urgency and precision, as Real Madrid chase glory on two fronts.
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