Kylian Mbappe injury blow leaves Real Madrid without their top scorer for the decisive Champions League clash against Benfica
Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe will miss Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League play-off second leg against Benfica after suffering a significant knee setback, dealing a major Kylian Mbappe injury blow to the Spanish giants.
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A source close to the club confirmed that the France international will not feature at the Santiago Bernabeu despite playing through discomfort in recent weeks.
The development follows reports that Mbappe has been managing ligament pain on the outside of his left knee since before the Christmas break.
Real Madrid hold a narrow 1-0 advantage from the first leg in Lisbon.
That match was overshadowed by allegations of racial abuse directed at winger Vinicius Junior during the contest.
Head coach Alvaro Arbeloa had earlier indicated that Mbappe was prepared to play and praised his determination to compete through pain.
However, medical staff ultimately ruled the forward out of the decisive fixture in order to avoid aggravating the injury.
Mbappe, Real Madrid’s leading scorer this season, tops the Champions League scoring chart with 13 goals.
The absence represents a serious setback as the club seek to protect their slender lead and progress to the last 16.
The striker appeared short of full mobility during Real Madrid’s 2-1 La Liga defeat to Osasuna on Saturday, raising concerns about his condition ahead of the European tie.
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Real Madrid must now navigate the crucial encounter without their talisman, hoping their first-leg advantage proves sufficient on home soil.
