Key Takeaways
- Kylian Mbappe picked up a hamstring problem during Real Madrid’s 1-1 draw against Real Betis on Friday evening
- The France captain now faces a fitness battle to feature in the crucial El Clasico fixture against Barcelona on 10 May
- Real Madrid trail league leaders Barcelona by 11 points with just five matches left to play this season
Real Madrid face an anxious wait over the fitness of star striker Kylian Mbappe ahead of their crucial El Clasico clash with Barcelona. The French international suffered a hamstring injury during Friday’s 1-1 draw with Real Betis in La Liga.
Medical staff at the club have confirmed that Mbappe has damaged the semitendinosus muscle in his left thigh. The forward was forced off the pitch in the 81st minute of the match. The club stated they are monitoring his condition closely as they await further updates.
The timing of this setback could not be worse for Carlo Ancelotti’s side. Los Blancos travel to the Camp Nou on 10 May to face their fierce rivals Barcelona. This match could decide the fate of the La Liga title race.
The defending champions currently sit 11 points behind the league leaders with only five games remaining. Real Madrid were also eliminated from the Champions League by Bayern Munich last week. This leaves them facing the possibility of finishing the campaign without any silverware.
Mbappe has been in excellent form since joining the Spanish giants. He has found the net 24 times in 28 league appearances and scored 15 goals in 11 Champions League matches. However, he has struggled with fitness issues this year. Earlier in the season, he spent nearly a month on the sidelines recovering from a knee problem.
Real Madrid must first focus on their upcoming match against Espanyol on Sunday. The team will hope their key forward can recover in time for the decisive encounter with Barcelona next month.