Mbappe suffers injury before Atletico derby

Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe has sustained a thigh injury ahead of this weekend’s La Liga derby with Atletico, his club said on Wednesday. The French superstar was taken off during the 3-2 win over Alaves on Tuesday and appeared to be suffering some discomfort. Spanish media suggest Mbappe will miss around three weeks injured.
“Following tests carried out today by Real Madrid’s medical services on our player Kylian Mbappe, he has been diagnosed with an injury to the biceps femoris in his left leg,” said the Spanish champions in a statement.
Mbappe scored a superb goal in the thriller at the Santiago Bernabeu with Alaves and has netted five times this season in seven league appearances. Asked about Mbappe’s condition after the game, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said: “He’s fine, he’s fine, a little overloaded, he asked me for the change to avoid problems.”
Madrid, a point behind leaders Barcelona ahead of the Catalans’ match against Getafe, visit the Metropolitano stadium on Sunday to face rivals Atletico. Los Blancos have not been beaten in La Liga for 39 games, since a defeat at Atletico a year ago.
The striker is also set to miss the visit to Lille in the Champions League next week and potentially October’s Nations League matches against Israel and Belgium with France. Mbappe joined Real Madrid this summer at the end of his Paris Saint-Germain contract, fulfilling a long-held dream.
The 25-year-old hit his stride in recent matches after taking a few games to find his footing in the Spanish capital. Mbappe has seven goals in nine appearances for Real across all competitions, scoring in the UEFA Super Cup victory over Atalanta in August and on his Champions League debut.
On Tuesday night, Mbappe struck for the fourth consecutive game as Madrid survived a late scare to beat Alaves 3-2. Madrid dismantled Alaves with goals from Lucas Vazquez, Mbappe and Rodrygo before a late salvo from the visitors rocked Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Carlos Protesoni and Kike Garcia scored two goals in two minutes in the final stages but Madrid held on. “This is football, you can think the game has finished, (then there’s) a small slip and they score the first, they get confidence and you lose it, this is what happens,” Ancelotti said. “Obviously we don’t want this to happen, but it can. We have to highlight that for an hour the team played well and that gives us confidence.”
Los Blancos overpowered Alaves from the start in what was a hugely uneven contest for most of the game, despite the Basque side’s solid start to the season. Ancelotti brought Vinicius Junior back into the starting line-up and gave Vazquez a rare start and the pair combined inside the first minute. The Brazilian winger surged in from the left flank and cut the ball back for a simple finish from Vazquez.
Ancelotti said Monday he wanted more intensity at the outset of matches after Madrid had scored just one first half goal this season in La Liga or the Champions League, and his demand was swiftly met. Los Blancos dominated with Alaves barely reaching Thibaut Courtois’ penalty box.
Despite that Madrid’s second goal only came five minutes before the interval, when Mbappe and Jude Bellingham combined beautifully. France captain Mbappe conjured a clever flicked pass to the England international, who completed a one-two by sending his teammate through on goal.
Mbappe took two deft touches to shake his marker and get a sight of goal, before stroking home clinically for his fifth league goal. Rodrygo expanded Madrid’s lead soon after the interval, roaming in with freedom from the right and firing through Alaves goalkeeper Antonio Sivera’s legs.
Teenage Brazilian striker Endrick hit the post with a deflected effort and Abde Rebbach also struck the woodwork as Alaves made a rare foray forward. Madrid substitute Endrick, 18, was fortunate not to be dismissed when he kicked out at Alaves defender Santiago Mourino.
The visitors pulled one back after 85 minutes when Protesoni curled home a sweet strike from the edge of the box. Protesoni then turned provider with a fine ball over the top which Kike Garcia fired home well. Madrid hung on for the victory, their 39th consecutive league game unbeaten in Ancelotti’s 300th game at the helm across two spells at the club, ahead of Sunday’s derby clash with Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano.
The Rojiblancos’ stadium was where they last tasted defeat in the top flight, exactly a year ago. Tempers frayed at full time when Ancelotti confronted the referee, seemingly unhappy with a few of his players being booked while some of Alaves’ tough tackling went unpunished. “Fair or unfair, we have to adapt to the new rules,” a calmer Ancelotti said later, as several of his players were carded for protesting decisions.
Alaves coach Luis Garcia Plaza was also angry at full-time after Endrick got away with lashing out. “The Endrick incident should have been a red card, we should have played the last 10 minutes with an extra player,” said the coach. “It’s red, there’s nothing more to it, I won’t speak more about this topic.”