Mbappe injury casts doubt on Real Madrid El Clasico appearance
Kylian Mbappe may miss Real Madrid’s clash with Barcelona on October 25, as a knee injury could sideline him for up to three months.
Key Takeaways
AIDoubts are mounting over Kylian Mbappe’s availability for Real Madrid’s El Clasico against Barcelona on October 25, as medical estimates suggest his left knee injury could keep him out for between two weeks and three months. The Spanish club has yet to announce the results of the medical tests conducted on the player.
Mbappe sustained the injury during France’s match against Turkey on Friday evening, affecting the same left knee that sidelined him for nearly two months last season. France’s coach said the injury "does not look good" before Mbappe was withdrawn from the national team camp and returned to Madrid for treatment.
According to Dr. Ángel Villanueva, the absence will be no less than two or three weeks, but could extend up to three months depending on the severity. A Madrid-based physiotherapist specializing in rehabilitation, knee injuries, and sports return programs outlined four possible recovery timelines.
Villanueva explained: "If the injury is minor, the absence will be two to three weeks. For a moderate injury, it will be four to six weeks. A severe injury would mean six to eight weeks out, while the most complicated cases require 10 to 12 weeks."
He added that the typical recovery period for such injuries ranges from three to eight weeks, but the exact duration of Mbappe’s absence remains undetermined pending Real Madrid’s official medical update expected in the coming hours.
The timing of the injury comes ahead of a crucial run of fixtures for Real Madrid, who host Villarreal on October 10 after the international break, visit Roma four days later in the Champions League, then face Sevilla in La Liga on October 18, RB Leipzig in the Champions League on October 21, and finally Barcelona in El Clasico on October 25.
Real Madrid’s league position adds further significance to the upcoming period, as the team has collected 15 points from their first seven matches and slipped to fourth place, six points behind leaders and defending champions Barcelona, following a 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid in last week’s capital derby.
Should Mbappe’s absence extend to two months, he could miss nine to ten matches for Real Madrid, making the awaited medical results crucial in determining the length of his layoff and his chances of featuring against Barcelona.