Barcelona vs Real Madrid: Will Kylian Mbappe Play In The El Clasico Tonight?newsline24

Real Madrid will be without star forward Kylian Mbappe for Sunday’s crucial El Clásico clash, dealing a major blow ahead of their trip to face FC Barcelona. The French striker, who leads the league scoring charts with 24 goals, has not recovered in time from a left hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined since late April.

Mbappé’s absence comes at a critical moment, with Barcelona on the verge of sealing back-to-back La Liga titles. The Catalan giants host their fiercest rivals at Camp Nou, knowing that even a draw would be enough to clinch the championship. They currently hold a commanding 11-point lead over Madrid with just four matches remaining.

The injury setback has also fueled speculation around Mbappe’s priorities, with sections of the Spanish media and fanbase questioning whether he is being cautious ahead of the upcoming World Cup. However, the forward recently addressed the criticism, reiterating his commitment to both his recovery and the club.

Meanwhile, Madrid’s preparations for the high-stakes encounter have been far from smooth. The squad has been rocked by internal issues following a difficult week off the pitch. Midfielder Federico Valverde suffered a head injury during a training-ground altercation involving Aurélien Tchouaméni, with both players reportedly fined €500,000. The incident is one of several reported clashes within the squad, highlighting growing tensions in the camp.

Reports also suggest another minor training-ground dispute involving Álvaro Carreras and Antonio Rüdiger, adding to concerns about discipline and morale within the team.

Under head coach Álvaro Arbeloa, who took over earlier this season following Xabi Alonso’s departure, Madrid are staring at the possibility of a second consecutive trophyless campaign. Speculation continues to swirl around the future direction of the club, with reports linking president Florentino Pérez to a potential move to bring back José Mourinho in a bid to revive fortunes.

For now, Madrid head into El Clásico playing largely for pride – and to avoid the added humiliation of watching Barcelona celebrate the title at their expense.