Football
Madrid press fears Mbappe injury threatens El Clasico
Real Madrid faces uncertainty as Kylian Mbappe's knee injury during France duty raises doubts about his availability for the October 25 El Clasico.
Kylian Mbappe returned to Madrid with a left knee injury after scoring the winning goal for France against Turkey, leaving Real Madrid concerned about his recovery timeline just one month before facing Barcelona in El Clasico. The French captain departed the national team camp immediately following the 1-0 victory to begin treatment, missing the remainder of the international break.
El Clasico participation in doubt
The incident occurred during Zinedine Zidane’s first match in charge of Les Bleus, confirming Mbappe’s absence from upcoming fixtures against Belgium on Monday and Italy and Belgium at Stade de France on October 2 and 5. According to RMC, the injury has become a significant source of anxiety within the club, overshadowing other sporting news in Spanish media.
While Marca featured Spain’s squad under Luis de la Fuente preparing for a rematch of the Euro 2024 final against England at Wembley, Madrid-based outlets focused heavily on Mbappe’s condition. La Liga leaders’ rivals, Real Madrid, currently sit second in the table, six points behind the top spot, making the striker’s fitness critical for their title challenge.
Media reaction to knee concerns
Marca highlighted the recurrence of issues with Mbappe’s left knee, noting he suffered similar problems twice last season. The newspaper described the situation as "FIFA virus," a term used for injuries sustained by club players during international duty. It reported that Mbappe collapsed on the pitch, covering his face, leaving fans and staff anxious.
As reflected the scene as "torture," emphasizing the history of misdiagnosis associated with the same knee. The paper stated that tension is palpable at Valdebebas, where no official communication has been issued while everyone awaits test results. Compounding the worry, Ibrahim Konate also withdrew from the French camp due to a right knee sprain.
Spanish press has already fixed its attention on October 25, the scheduled date for El Clasico. With no official duration for Mbappe’s absence announced yet, the central question remains whether he can recover in time for the high-stakes derby.
