Mbappé set to miss Levante clash as knee troubles persist
Real Madrid's injury woes continue as Kylian Mbappé will be unavailable for Saturday's home fixture against Levante, with Rodrygo possibly returning to the squad.
Madrid’s star striker continues to struggle with knee issues, forcing interim boss Arbeloa to plan without his top scorer for Saturday’s lunchtime clash with Levante.
Ongoing Knee Concerns
Despite training with apparent normality on Thursday, Mbappé’s left knee problems haven’t fully subsided. The French forward made the trip to Saudi Arabia for the Supercopa final but managed just 15 minutes against Barcelona, highlighting the persistent nature of the injury.
These same knee troubles kept him out of the squad entirely for Wednesday night’s shocking Copa del Rey exit, where the reserves couldn’t get the job done against Albacete. That 3-2 defeat has cranked up the pressure at the Bernabéu, making Mbappé’s absence all the more significant for a team suddenly looking rather fragile.
Rodrygo Return Provides Silver Lining
It’s not all doom and gloom for Los Blancos, though. In what could be a crucial boost for Arbeloa’s options up top:
- Rodrygo has been training with the group
- The Brazilian appears to have overcome the minor muscular issues that troubled him in Saudi Arabia
- Final confirmation of his availability is expected during Friday’s pre-match preparations
Selection Headaches
With Mbappé sidelined, Arbeloa faces some proper head-scratchers for his forward line. The interim gaffer will likely need to reshuffle his pack following that cup exit, which frankly left the Madrid faithful feeling sick as a parrot.
The 14:00 Saturday kick-off gives little recovery time after Wednesday’s disappointment, putting even more emphasis on getting the team selection spot on against a Levante side that will fancy their chances against a weakened Madrid.