Real Madrid receive Kylian Mbappe injury boost ahead of Barcelona clash

Real Madrid have been reassured that Kylian Mbappe’s left knee injury is not serious, with the France forward expected to be out for about 15 days.

Mbappe was injured while playing for France against Turkey in the Nations League on Friday. He returned to Madrid for tests at Valdebebas, which revealed an overextension of the posterior capsule in his left knee.

The forward has now begun his recovery in the Spanish capital. Real Madrid hope the anticipated absence will allow him to return when La Liga resumes, with Villarreal due to visit the Santiago Bernabeu on 10 October.

Mbappe joins an injury list that already includes Eder Militao, Rodrygo, Ferland Mendy, Fede Valverde and Ibrahima Konate. Konate has suffered a similar injury to Mbappe and is expected to face a comparable recovery period.

Real Madrid are hopeful that Konate and Valverde will be available when competitive action resumes, ahead of the eagerly anticipated El Clasico against Barcelona on 25 October.

The club remain concerned, however, by the demands placed on their squad during the current international break. A large number of players have been involved in successive matches over a short period, while some have also faced lengthy journeys between fixtures.

Among those affected are Vinicius Junior and Endrick, who are with Brazil in Australia and India, while Brahim Diaz is set to travel with Morocco to South Africa for a match against Lesotho.

Real Madrid recorded 54 injuries last season, and Militao, Rodrygo and Mendy remain unavailable. The issue has therefore become one of Jose Mourinho’s main priorities since the start of the campaign.

Mourinho brought in Sandro Carrico from Benfica to lead the club’s sports science department, which focuses on injury prevention and managing the players’ physical workload.

The measures appeared to be having an effect during the opening months of the season, when Real Madrid’s injury list remained relatively short. Concerns have increased again during the present international break, though, adding injuries to the technical challenges Mourinho must address.