Real Madrid‘s star forward Kylian Mbappe missed the second leg against Benfica due to a knee injury, which is causing him more trouble. Manager Alvaro Arbeloa confirmed that this absence won’t be brief.
At the post-match press conference following Real Madrid’s victory over Benfica, Arbeloa stated that Mbappe will not return soon from his left knee injury.
He mentioned, via Madrid Zone, “Kylian Mbappé will NOT be back very soon. His recovery will take a while, not just a few days.”
Arbeloa’s update aligns with concerns among Real Madrid supporters. Mbappe has been playing with discomfort for several months, and the situation seems to be worsening, affecting his chances in the upcoming World Cup and his performance in the remaining season for Real Madrid.
Consequently, Real Madrid is opting to rest him, relying more on other players such as Vinicius Junior, who scored again in the recent match against Benfica.
Mbappe is likely to miss the match against Getafe on Monday, and a return on March 7 against Celta Vigo seems unlikely. It would be prudent for Real Madrid to wait until April to bring him back against Mallorca after the international break, meaning he would also miss matches against Elche and Atletico Madrid. However, keeping him out of El Derbi might be challenging, especially after he was their standout player in the previous loss to the same team.