This Sunday, Real Madrid And Barcelona will compete against each other in the Spanish Super Cup final, with both sides hunting for the first trophy of 2026. All eyes are on it Kylian Mbappe and his potential return to the team, a topic Xabi Alonso discussed in the run-up to the match.
The Real Madrid coach held a press conference on Saturday and was asked about Mbappé’s fitness. The French forward missed Thursday’s semi-final but later traveled to rejoin the squad ahead of Sunday’s final. ‘He’s much better’ Alonso recognized, thus Marking.
“He wasn’t quite ready against Atletico Madrid and we decided not to rush him, but with the idea that he could be available for the final. He flew yesterday and is training with the team today.”‘ added the Real Madrid coach, although he did not confirm Mbappé’s role against Barcelona. “We will evaluate it and decide whether he starts or plays fewer minutes.”
Alonso was then asked whether it would be too risky to play Mbappe just 12 days after suffering a knee injury. “We are not kamikazes when it comes to making decisions. It is a controlled risk,the Spanish coach explained. “It is a decision we will make together with the player, the coaching staff and the medical team. We have to measure the risk, the moment we are in and what is at stake.”
Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid.
How have Real Madrid performed without Mbappe this season?
With 29 goals and five assists in 24 appearances, there is no doubt that Kylian Mbappe is Real Madrid’s most important player this season. That context explains the risky decision to have him travel to Saudi Arabia for the meeting Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona as he accelerated his recovery from a knee injury.
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However, in the few games that Los Blancos played without the French star this season, the results were not necessarily bad. Mbappe has only missed three games this season, all due to injury.
The first came on December 10, when a left hand injury ruled him out Manchester city in the UEFA Champions League. That evening, the English team achieved a 2-1 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
The other two absences arose from the knee injury that Mbappé suffered at the end of December. In The LeagueReal Madrid achieved a 5-1 victory Real Betisof Gonzalo Garcia acts as striker and scores a hat-trick. And the most recent example was of course Thursday’s narrow 2-1 victory Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals of the Spanish Super Cup.
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Barcelona respects Mbappé
Amid speculation over whether Kylian Mbappe will play for Real Madrid on Sunday, Hansi Flick was asked about the French star during his own press conference and made no secret of his admiration. “He is the best striker in the world right now. He is a world-class player,” the Barcelona coach admitted.
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