Mbappe Ruled Out Of Spanish Super Cup As Real Madrid Face Atletico

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has been ruled out of this week’s Spanish Super Cup after failing to recover in time from a knee injury.

The French superstar will miss Thursday’s semifinal clash against city rivals Atletico Madrid, with Barcelona set to face Athletic Bilbao in the other semifinal on Wednesday.

Mbappe, who is Real Madrid’s top goalscorer, is still recovering from a sprain in his left knee and was omitted from the club’s squad list released on Tuesday ahead of the tournament in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Naija News reports that the 27-year-old sustained the injury on New Year’s Eve, and the club has opted for caution in his recovery.

According to reports from the Spanish giants, the decision to leave Mbappé behind was taken under a strict “zero risk” policy, with the club unwilling to rush their star forward back to action.

This will be the second Madrid derby Mbappé has missed since joining Real Madrid in September 2024.

He also sat out his first derby appearance, which was played at Atletico Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium, shortly after his arrival.

In the four Madrid derbies he has featured in since then, the former Paris Saint-Germain forward has scored two goals, both of which came in LaLiga.

Despite Mbappé’s absence, there was positive news for Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso, as Trent Alexander-Arnold has returned to the squad following injury.

The England international’s availability offers a timely boost for Alonso, who is currently under pressure following a disappointing start to the season.

Real Madrid are currently four points behind champions Barcelona in the LaLiga title race, intensifying scrutiny on the Spanish coach as the season progresses.

The Spanish Super Cup now presents an opportunity for Alonso to steady the ship and deliver silverware, even in the absence of his star forward.