ไทย
English
中國人
Kylian Mbappé has been cleared to play against Bayern Munich in the high-stakes Champions League quarterfinal second leg on Wednesday evening, after concerns arose following an injury he sustained over the weekend.
The incident took place in the closing moments of Madrid's disappointing 1–1 stalemate with Girona in La Liga on Friday, when Mbappé received an elbow to the head from defender Vitor Reis.
The French star was left with a bloody wound from the challenge, which, controversially, went unpunished with no penalty awarded to Madrid.
"As far as I'm concerned, it's a penalty here and on the moon," manager Álvaro Arbeloa told the press after the game, expressing his frustration over the absence of VAR intervention.
Mbappé's nasty-looking cut needed three stitches, and he subsequently sat out Real Madrid's Sunday training session as the squad gears up to take on Bayern in Munich—raising doubts about the striker's fitness for the must-win Champions League clash.
Is Mbappé Fit and Ready to Face Bayern?
Despite the concern, Mbappé is not in danger of missing Wednesday's fixture. The forward, who has racked up 39 goals in 38 appearances this season, returned to training with the squad on Monday, with his absence on Sunday considered a precautionary measure rather than a sign of anything more serious.
Mbappé was spotted wearing a small bandage above his right eye during Monday's session. Notably, reports have also indicated that the nature of the injury means he will not be required to wear a protective face mask for the match at Bayern.
Mbappé famously wore a custom-made face mask during Euro 2024 in Germany after breaking his nose in France's opening game against Austria. His performances appeared to dip throughout the tournament, as he managed just one goal and France were eliminated by Spain in the semifinals.
Mbappé spoke openly about the discomfort of wearing the protective headgear, saying "it's really difficult because it limits your vision and the sweat clogs up."
"At first I felt like I was in 3D and had been invited to the Euros as a VIP guest. I could see everyone but it didn't feel like I was the one playing. The moment I can take it off, I will. Right now I have no choice, I can't play without it. It's really frustrating."
It comes as a welcome relief that no such measures will be necessary for this visit to Germany.
Another Key Star Trains Ahead of Wednesday
A further positive for Madrid was the sight of defender Ferland Mendy participating in the club's final training session before their trip.
Mbappé's fellow Frenchman did come on as a substitute in the draw with Girona, but his fitness has required careful management this season, with just six appearances to his name in 2025–26 so far.
Nevertheless, it seems the 30-year-old could be set to start at left back on Wednesday ahead of Álvaro Carreras, who had a difficult outing against Michael Olise in the first leg loss.
On the injury front, only Thibaut Courtois and Rodrygo were absent from Monday's session due to ongoing fitness concerns, while Aurélien Tchouaméni will also miss Wednesday's game through suspension.