Real Madrid are growing increasingly concerned about the situation of Kylian Mbappé, who will miss Wednesday’s Champions League playoff second leg against Benfica at the Bernabéu. The French forward has been struggling for weeks with persistent knee pain and was forced to cut short his latest training session, confirming fears that he is not fit enough to take part in such a high-stakes match.
Despite reassuring words from coach Álvaro Arbeloa at Tuesday’s press conference, Mbappé’s condition worsened shortly afterward, leading to his withdrawal from the squad. The timing could hardly be worse for Madrid, already under pressure following a shock defeat against Osasuna and amid a tense atmosphere surrounding the Benfica tie.
The club’s medical staff are now carefully reassessing the situation, aware that pushing the player could jeopardize the rest of his season.
According to Spanish media, Madrid are considering giving Mbappé at least ten days of rest to avoid aggravating the injury, which would rule him out of upcoming league matches against Getafe and Celta Vigo. A meeting between the player and the coaching staff is expected to decide the next steps, while Gonzalo García is tipped to replace him in the starting lineup. For now, the Mbappé alert is firmly back at the Bernabéu, with uncertainty hanging over his short-term future.