Kylian Mbappe is facing a race against time to prove his fitness ahead of the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona on April 26.
The France international limped out of last night’s 2-1 Champions League defeat at home to Arsenal with a mild ankle sprain but it is thought to be serious enough to place his participation against Barca in doubt.
Here, we examine Madrid’s schedule and pinpoint the games Mbappe may, or may not, play in:
Real Madrid v Athletic Bilbao – La Liga, April 20
Madrid will look to overcome their European disappointment when Athletic Bilbao visit the Bernabeu on Sunday. Mbappe will not play, however, as he will serve a one-game ban for his red card at Alaves last weekend.
The former Paris Saint-Germain star was sent-off seven minutes before half-time after a studs-up challenge on Alaves midfielder Antonio Blanco in a game Madrid went on to win 1-0.
The length of the sanction has caused controversy with most pundits believing it should have warranted a three-match ban that would have ruled him out of the Copa final.
Barca’s vice-president Rafael Yuste said the “tackle and the sanction are absurd”.
Getafe v Real Madrid – La Liga, April 23
Madrid make the short trip to Getafe next Wednesday in a game Mbappe is unlikely to feature in given he will be offered every opportunity to prove his fitness for the following weekend’s assignment.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side won’t lose sight of the fact they are still in the middle of a title battle, however, and will still go as strong as they can at the Estadio Coliseum.
🗓️ Real Madrid’s calendar up to Club World Cup.
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) April 17, 2025
Real Madrid v Barcelona – Copa del Rey final, April 26
Given Madrid’s exit from Europe, this game takes on extra importance.
Even a win is unlikely to save Ancelotti’s job – he is likely to leave at the end of the season – but it would be another trophy to add to the haul and, most importantly, prove to the Madridistas that their side can live with a Barca team that have won both meetings this season with ease.
If he is fit, Mbappe will play, although that won’t necessarily solve Madrid’s attacking issues, a point emphasised by Thibaut Courtois in the aftermath of the Arsenal game.
He is a man for the big occasion, as demonstrated by his hat-trick in the World Cup final in 2022, and Mbappe will hope to help his side to success in Seville.
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