Kylian Mbappé injury sparks Real Madrid concern
The Frenchman sat out team practice for a second successive day, making him a doubt for Saturday’s match against Real Sociedad.
Without a midweek fixture, Real Madrid head coach Álvaro Arbeloa would have hoped to get the chance to work with his team on the training ground ahead of Saturday’s game against Real Sociedad. However those plans have been complicated by the fitness of Kylian Mbappé, who is now a doubt to feature for Madrid this weekend.
AS in Madrid can confirm that the forward trained in the gym on Thursday, missing out on the full team session. Mbappé is still trying to recover from a left knee pain, a consequence of a sprain suffered back in December. With two days to go before the visit of in-form Real Sociedad, the Frenchman’s availability is not clear. His condition on Friday, the day before the match, will be a crucial moment to assess his availability at the Bernabéu.
Mbappé has been the focal point of Madrid’s attack this year and has contributed 38 goals so far, representing 48% of the team’s total. Despite feeling the after-affects of the knee injury, Mbappé has been in terrific form in recent weeks. He has played in each of the last six games and scored nine goals in that period, hitting braces against Monaco, Villarreal and Benfica.
So far, the Frenchman has only missed four matches this season. He sat out the Champions League clash with Manchester City in December, last month’s games against Real Betis in La Liga and Atlético Madrid in the Super Cup semi-final, and the loss to Albacete in the Copa del Rey. For Madrid, the real priority will be ensuring that Mbappé is back at full fitness for the crucial Champions League playoff games against Benfica, with the first leg to be played on Tuesday, February 17.
Mbappé is not the only first-team regular working his way back to full fitness. Defender Raúl Asencio did not train on Thursday as he recovers from illness. Meanwhile Jude Bellingham, Diego Militao, and Rodrygo Goes are all out for the visit of Real Sociedad on Saturday.
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