Mbappé an injury worry for Real Madrid: will he play against Benfica?
The Frenchman's knee injury is not only a concern against Benfica, but also, according to AS, against Getafe. "He's fit to play," Arbeloa predicted.
Mbappé is doubtful. And there are doubts, for Benfica and beyond. The concern is his left knee, the one that has been troubling him for weeks and preventing him from performing at 100 per cent. Real Madrid are holding off on any final decision until tomorrow, waiting to see how he feels and weighing necessity against risk.
However, as AS has learned, the uncertainty does not end with the Champions League playoff second leg. It also affects the following match. The injury suggests he will likely have to rest on Monday at 3:00 PM ET against Getafe. For now, that is the situation. With Mbappé, it is not just that he is doubtful. There are genuine doubts.
That was the line Arbeloa took this morning. “He’s been making an effort for weeks...” he said. But after the pause, he added: “He’s fit to play.” As the hours have passed, though, that second statement has lost strength.
The knee has been managed carefully since 7 December, since the match against Celta. From then on, it has been handled game by game, decision by decision, without any real period of complete rest.
Real Madrid host Benfica in the second leg of their playoff round game in the UEFA Champions League tomorrow, Wednesday 25 February. The game will kick-off at 3pm ET.
@asusaofficial 🚨MBAPPÉ INJURED? ALARM BELLS IN MADRID!🚨 Reports say the player was forced to leave training early due to a knee issue and is a doubt against Benfica. #realmadrid #championsleague #mbappe
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