Mbappé missed Real Madrid’s trip to Saudi Arabia for Thursday’s semifinal against Atlético Madrid due to a knee sprain sustained earlier in the week. Despite his absence, Madrid secured a 2-1 victory over city rivals Atlético in Jeddah, setting up a Clasico clash with Barcelona.
Speaking to reporters after the win, Alonso stated: “Mbappé is feeling much better and has the same chance to play as his teammates.” The coach added that the French forward would join the squad in Jeddah on Friday.
At 27, Mbappé remains a key figure in Madrid’s attack, leading the club’s scoring charts with 29 goals in 24 appearances across all competitions this season. His return comes at a crucial time, as Barcelona cruised past Athletic Bilbao 5-0 in Wednesday’s first semi-final.
Beyond Mbappé, Madrid’s recent form shows the team has maintained consistency even without their star forward. Since Mbappé joined in the summer of 2024, Madrid averages 2.16 points per game when he starts, compared with 2.18 points when he doesn’t.
Scoring data is similar. According to Sofascore, Madrid averages 2.19 goals per game with Mbappé and 2.09 without him. The minor drop in attacking output is offset by stronger defensive stats, with goals conceded falling from 1.19 to 1.00 per game and clean sheets remaining steady.
Other subtle differences appear in match dynamics. Shot attempts decrease from 17.8 per game to 15.4 in Mbappé’s absence, while clear-cut chances also drop. Opponents, however, tend to enjoy more possession and create more opportunities themselves.