How many times has Kylian Mbappé been sent off and how many games will he be suspended for?

Kylian Mbappé received the first red card of his Real Madrid career on Sunday, when he was dismissed for a horror tackle in Los Blancos’ 1-0 LaLiga win over Deportivo Alavés.

Why was Mbappé sent off against Alavés?

In the 38th minute at the Estadio Mendizorroza, Mbappé was shown a straight red by referee César Soto Grado, after a high, studs-up challenge on Alavés midfielder Ántonio Blanco - a former Madrid player.

Initially, Mbappé escaped with only a yellow card, but Soto Grado upgraded the striker’s punishment after re-watching the incident on the pitchside monitor.

Earlier in the first half, Eduardo Camavinga had headed in the game’s only goal, to ensure that second-placed Madrid cut Barcelona’s lead at the top of LaLiga back to four points.

Both teams finished with 10 men in Vitoria, as Alavés defender Manu Sánchez also saw red with 20 minutes remaining.

How many red cards has Mbappé had?

Mbappé’s red card is the fourth of his professional soccer career, and his first since 2019.

The 26-year-old wasn’t sent off once in 60 first-team appearances for his first club, Monaco, but his subsequent seven-year spell with Paris Saint-Germain yielded a trio of dismissals.

In January 2018, the France star earned the first red card of his career in PSG’s Coupe de la Ligue semi-final victory against Rennes.

As against Alavés, he was sent off after a poor challenge - on this occasion on Ismaila Sarr - prompted a VAR review

In September that year, Mbappé was then dismissed in a 4-2 Ligue win over Nimes. After suffering a bad challenge by Téji Savanier, who was also sent off, the forward was given his marching orders for retaliating.

In 2018/19, Mbappé was again red carded in a game against Rennes. Late in extra time in the Coupe de France final in April 2019, he was sent off after a high, dangerous tackle on Damien Da Silva.

After a 2-2 draw at the Stade de France, PSG lost the final 8-9 on penalties.

Mbappé in first season in LaLiga

Mbappé made a total of 308 appearances for PSG - scoring 256 times - before joining Madrid on a free transfer last summer. Since arriving in Spain, he has hit 33 goals in 49 games for Los Merengues.

In addition to Sunday’s red card, the striker has accrued four yellow cards for Madrid.

No France red cards so far

In his 88 caps for the France national team - he made his debut for Les Bleus in 2017 - Mbappé has scored 48 goals, won one World Cup, and never been sent off.

How many games will Mbappé miss after his red card?

According to Spanish Football Federation rules, Mbappé appears to be in line to receive a suspension of between one and three games for “violent play”.

Madrid have three domestic games before their Copa del Rey final clash with Barcelona on April 26, so Mbappé would only miss the showpiece event if he were to be suspended for four or more games.

And, as explained by AS’s resident refereeing expert Eduardo Iturralde - who is a former FIFA official - the player is unlikely to get such a lengthy ban, as his challenge did not cause injury to Blanco.

“The player didn’t suffer an injury, he didn’t need to be substituted,” Iturralde said. “They [Spanish soccer’s disciplinary panel] will consider it undue force and I think it’ll end up being [a ban of] two games.

“Mbappé will only miss the final of the Copa if he’s given four games… and that won’t happen, because there is no injury.”

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