Mbappe sidelined against City, Alaves status unknown
Kylian Mbappe was included in Real Madrid's squad list for Wednesday's Champions League clash with Manchester City but never made it onto the pitch. Not even for warm-ups. Now, manager Xabi Alonso doesn't know if his top scorer will be available for Saturday's La Liga match against Alaves.
"Mbappe wasn't fit to play and we still don't know if he'll be able to play against Alaves," Alonso explained after the City match. "We have to wait."
That's not the update Real Madrid fans wanted to hear. Mbappe's been dealing with left knee discomfort since the first half of the match against Celta, and while the injury doesn't appear serious, the sensations he's experiencing haven't improved. Madrid's policy is clear: zero risk, especially with their star signing.
The knee issue that won't go away
Mbappe picked up the knock during Real Madrid's match against Celta and hasn't felt right since. It's his left knee, the same one that's caused him problems before, and the club is treating it with extreme caution. The French striker trained separately in the days leading up to the City match, hoping to be available, but clearly wasn't comfortable enough to feature.
Being included in the squad list suggested optimism, but Alonso never seriously considered using him. When your medical staff says a player isn't ready, you don't gamble—especially not against Manchester City in a massive Champions League fixture where one wrong step could turn a minor issue into a season-ending injury.
Now the question is whether Saturday gives Mbappe enough recovery time. The sensations haven't been good, according to reports, which doesn't inspire confidence about a quick turnaround.
Real Madrid's injury crisis reaches breaking point
Mbappe's potential absence would bring Real Madrid's injury list to eleven players. Eleven. That's not a crisis—that's a catastrophe.
Here's the full damage report for the Alaves match:
Defense: Dani Carvajal, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ferland Mendy, Sergio Carreras, Fran Garcia, David Alaba, and Eder Militao are all out. Dean Huijsen is questionable.
Midfield: Eduardo Camavinga is sidelined.
Attack: Endrick is suspended, and now Mbappe is doubtful.
That's Madrid's entire defensive depth wiped out, missing a key midfielder, and potentially without their most expensive signing. Alonso is coaching with one hand tied behind his back, forced to piece together lineups from whatever healthy bodies remain available.
Zero risk policy makes sense
Real Madrid's approach to Mbappe's injury is smart, even if it's frustrating for fans desperate to see him play. The club learned hard lessons from rushing players back too quickly in the past. When you've invested as heavily as Madrid has in Mbappe—both financially and strategically—you don't gamble with his health over a La Liga match in December.
Alaves at home is a game Madrid should win without Mbappe. Losing him for weeks or months because they rushed him back for one match? That's a trade-off no club would accept, especially when the Champions League knockout rounds are approaching and every match matters.
The sensations Mbappe's experiencing are the key indicator. If he's not comfortable, if the knee doesn't feel right, he doesn't play. Simple as that. Medical staff aren't clearing him until they're confident he can perform without risk of aggravation.
What Alonso does without his star
Xabi Alonso faces a brutal tactical puzzle against Alaves. His defensive options are nearly exhausted, his midfield is thin, and now his most dangerous attacker might be unavailable. That forces creativity Madrid probably didn't want to explore in December.
Younger players get opportunities they weren't expecting. Tactical adjustments become necessary. The squad depth everyone assumed Madrid possessed gets tested under genuine pressure. These are the moments that define seasons—not the matches where everyone's healthy, but the stretches where managers have to improvise with depleted rosters.
If Mbappe can't go, someone else steps up. That's professional football. But losing your top scorer when you're already missing ten other players isn't just inconvenient—it's potentially season-altering.
The waiting game continues
Real Madrid is in wait-and-see mode with Mbappe. They'll assess his knee daily, monitor his comfort level, and make a decision closer to Saturday's kickoff. Alonso won't have clarity until the last possible moment, which makes preparation challenging but necessary.
The sensations matter more than any medical scan or test result. If Mbappe feels right, he plays. If he doesn't, he sits. There's no middle ground, no compromising with a player this important to Madrid's present and future.
Eleven potential absences for one match is a nightmare scenario. But rushing Mbappe back and losing him for months would be worse. Madrid's playing the long game, even if it hurts right now.
