Real Madrid dealt major setback with Kylian Mbappe reportedly out of Benfica return leg

Kylian Mbappe is reportedly set to miss Real Madrid’s decisive Champions League play-off second leg against Benfica on Wednesday, dealing a significant setback to the Spanish giants as they seek to finish the job at home.

Sources close to the dressing room have indicated that the French international of Cameroonian descent will not feature in the return encounter, after struggling with a persistent knee problem.

The development leaves Madrid without their most decisive attacking weapon for a match that could shape their European campaign.

Mbappe, who currently leads the scoring charts in both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League, has been managing discomfort in the lateral ligament of his left knee for several weeks.

Despite the issue, the France captain continued to play through pain in recent fixtures, underlining both his importance to the side and his determination to contribute during a crucial stretch of the season.

However, the strain has now forced him to step aside for the second leg against the Portuguese outfit. Madrid hold a slender 1-0 advantage from the first meeting, but the absence of their leading scorer introduces an element of uncertainty into a tie that remains finely balanced.

Mbappe’s influence extends beyond his goals. His pace in transition, movement between defensive lines and ability to decide matches in isolated moments have frequently tilted high-pressure contests in Madrid’s favour.

Without him, Alvaro Arbeloa must rethink his attacking structure and look to alternative sources of inspiration in the final third.

Whether Madrid can protect their narrow lead without their talisman will now become the defining subplot of Wednesday’s European showdown.