Kylian Mbappé made a late appearance as a substitute in Real Madrid’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday. Despite having netted 25 goals for Madrid this season, he was sidelined from the starting lineup due to a reported minor knee injury.
From the bench, Mbappé voiced his concerns to the fourth official after Manchester City’s equalizer, suggesting a potential foul on Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger during a corner kick. The result at Santiago Bernabeu puts additional pressure on manager Xabi Alonso, as Madrid has struggled lately, winning just two of their last eight matches and suffering a 2-0 loss to Celta Vigo just days before.
Previously, Mbappé had withdrawn from the French national team due to a right ankle injury and more recently dealt with a fractured finger on his left hand. He trained separately from teammates on Tuesday but had been in exceptional form before his injury, scoring seven goals in his last three games.
During the match, Gonzalo Garcia’s name surfaced as he was substituted for Arda Güler in the 58th minute, with Brahim Díaz taking Dani Ceballos’ place in the 67th minute and Endrik replacing Raul Asensio in the 79th. Notably, Mbappé did not participate in warm-ups with the rest of the substitutes.
Reported by the Associated Press.
This news is significant for soccer fans as it highlights both Mbappé’s current injury struggles and Real Madrid’s declining form, raising concerns about the team’s prospects in crucial competitions. The implications of his fitness could play a pivotal role in Madrid’s ability to contend for titles this season.
