Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappé is a major doubt for next month’s El Clásico after the club confirmed he has suffered a thigh injury.
In a statement released on Monday, the Spanish giants said the France captain has been diagnosed with an injury to the semitendinosus muscle in his left leg. The setback occurred during Madrid’s 1-1 draw against Real Betis in La Liga last Friday, a match in which Mbappé was forced off after picking up the injury.
“Mbappé has been diagnosed with an injury to the semitendinosus muscle in his left leg,” the club said.
The injury comes at a crucial stage of the season for Real Madrid, who are chasing league leaders Barcelona in the Spanish top flight. Madrid currently sit second in the table, 11 points behind their arch-rivals.
The 25-year-old forward is now expected to miss key fixtures, including Sunday’s league match against Espanyol, with uncertainty surrounding his availability for the highly anticipated clash against Barcelona on May 10.
The El Clásico is widely seen as a decisive fixture in the title race, and Mbappé’s potential absence could significantly impact Madrid’s hopes of closing the gap at the top.
Madrid will continue to monitor his recovery in the coming days, but the club has not provided a timeline for his return.