Real Madrid are facing a key commitment against Real Betis at the Santiago Bernabeu in LaLiga Matchday 18, under pressure not to drop any more ground in the title race. However, they must face this challenge without Kylian Mbappe, as the star forward will not even be on the bench for this match.
Through an official statement on December 31, Real Madrid confirmed that Mbappe suffered a sprain in his left knee and that his recovery will be evaluated based on daily progress, with no established timeline.
This situation has sounded alarms for the coaching staff, as there is uncertainty regarding whether the forward will be fit for the Spanish Super Cup semifinals, where Real Madrid are set to face Atletico Madrid on Thursday, January 8.
The gap behind Barcelona in the fight for LaLiga remains significant, as Real Madrid are currently seven points behind the leaders, but a victory would allow them to close in and stay in the hunt.
This is certainly a major loss for Xabi Alonso, as Mbappe is coming off a year as the top scorer of 2025 with 66 goals across all competitions. To replace him, the Spanish manager has decided to call upon Gonzalo Garcia, while Franco Mastantuono remains another option on the bench.
When could Mbappe return?
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In a press conference, Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso confirmed that Mbappeās availability is being evaluated on a day-to-day basis, and he has not ruled out a return for the Spanish Super Cup.
However, the renowned French outlet LāĆquipe reports that the forwardās recovery could take between three to four weeks. If this timeline holds true, Mbappe would miss the Spanish Super Cup clash against Atletico Madrid and might only return in time for the Champions League match against Monaco on January 20.
