Real Madrid will be missing the injured Kylian Mbappé for the upcoming Clásico on Sunday, a match that could clinch a second consecutive La Liga title for Barcelona.
Mbappé, the top scorer of the league with 24 goals, has been excluded from Madrid’s lineup after failing to recover from a left hamstring injury that has kept him out since late April.
In response to recent criticisms aimed at him in Spain, Mbappé emphasized his dedication to the team and his rehabilitation process. Some fans voiced unease that the French striker might be prioritizing preparations for the upcoming World Cup.
Barcelona will host Madrid at Camp Nou, where a victory or even a draw would allow them to celebrate the La Liga title against their greatest rival. Barcelona currently leads Madrid by 11 points, with only four matches left in the season.
Real Madrid, now playing primarily for pride and to avoid the embarrassment of witnessing Barcelona celebrate right in front of them, is reeling from a tumultuous week. Players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni have each been fined €500,000 ($589,000) due to an altercation during training that left Valverde with a head injury after allegedly hitting his head on a table.
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This incident was not the only one of its kind for Madrid last week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed being involved in a “minor” scuffle with a teammate. Reports from the Spanish media indicate that he and defender Antonio Rüdiger had a physical confrontation.
Álvaro Arbeloa, who was promoted from the reserve team in January after the dismissal of Xabi Alonso, now faces the challenge of guiding Madrid through a second consecutive season without major silverware. Speculations in the Spanish media suggest that club president Florentino Pérez may be considering a return for José Mourinho in a bid to stabilize the struggling team.