Is Kylian Mbappé a doubt for Real Madrid vs Benfica at the Bernabeu?
Kylian Mbappé is a serious doubt for Real Madrid’s Champions League play-off decider against Benfica on Wednesday because of continued discomfort in his left knee. The question over his availability comes as Madrid prepare to defend a 1-0 aggregate lead at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Is Mbappé likely to play after knee pain that began in December?
The 27-year-old France international has been experiencing knee pain since December and has missed several matches, including Real Madrid’s home win over Real Sociedad this month and the Supercopa de Espana semi-final against Atletico Madrid. He did, however, play 90 minutes in Madrid’s last two games, including the first-leg victory against Benfica in Lisbon.
Mondays and Tuesdays have mattered this week: Mbappé was said to have been in discomfort towards the end of Tuesday’s training session, and club staff were described as pessimistic about his chances of recovering in time for the match. A final decision on his participation is scheduled for Wednesday after discussions between Mbappé and Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa. Those close to the player believe he is unlikely to be in a condition to feature.
Arbeloa said on Tuesday that the France international is "ready to play" while also noting that "everyone knows he’s been dealing with discomfort for several weeks. " The club faces the choice of risking a player who has scored prolifically this season or protecting his long-term fitness.
How Mbappé’s recent minutes and goals shape Madrid’s approach
Mbappé has scored 38 goals in 33 appearances across all competitions this season, including 13 goals in the Champions League, and his availability would influence Real Madrid’s attacking options. He completed 90 minutes in the first leg in Lisbon, where Vinicius Junior’s second-half strike produced the only goal and left Madrid with a 1-0 aggregate lead going into the second leg.
With that narrow advantage, Madrid must balance the immediate importance of the tie at the Bernabeu against the warning signs from Mbappé’s left knee and the club’s own caution after Tuesday’s training session.
Benfica travel to Madrid without Prestianni and with Mourinho suspended
Benfica are travelling to Madrid to try to overturn the one-goal deficit from the first leg. The match is the Champions League playoff second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, Spain, scheduled for Wednesday at 9pm (20: 00 GMT), with pre-match build-up beginning at 17: 00 GMT.
The Portuguese side will be without forward Gianluca Prestianni, who has been provisionally suspended "without prejudice" by UEFA for one match after allegations that he racially abused Vinicius Jr in the aftermath of the Brazilian’s winner at the Estadio da Luz. The 20-year-old midfielder hid his mouth with his shirt during the confrontation and has insisted he did not racially abuse Vinicius; UEFA’s investigation could see Prestianni miss at least 10 games if it concludes he did.
Benfica’s coach Jose Mourinho is also suspended for the second leg. He has not set foot in the Santiago Bernabeu since leaving Real Madrid in 2013 and was sent off during Benfica’s 1-0 first-leg defeat in Lisbon last week for making vituperative complaints about the officials from the touchline.
Mourinho’s comments, referee disputes and fallout from the first leg
Mourinho drew criticism for saying Vinicius’s goal celebration was disrespectful and for insisting Benfica was not a racist club because their biggest icon, Eusebio, was Black. Mourinho also accused referee Francois Letexier of avoiding bookings for Madrid players who were at risk of suspension for the second leg: "I’ve had my butt on the bench for 1, 400 games and [I could see that] he knew perfectly well who he could book and who he couldn’t, " he complained. "I [won’t be] sitting on the bench. I can’t go to the dressing room. I can’t communicate with the team. It’s hard for me, but my teammates and my assistants are there. They’ll do their job. "
Player reactions and the wider tension around the tie
Vinicius wrote that "racists are above all cowards" on social media after the game. Mbappé publicly backed his teammate and said he had heard Prestianni calling the winger a "monkey. " Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois disagreed with Mourinho’s criticism of Vinicius and pushed back on any link between the celebration and allegations of racism: "At the end of the day, Mourinho is Mourinho. As a coach, you’re always, I think, going to defend your club and what your player has told you. The only thing that disappoints me a bit is using Vini’s celebration. I don’t think Vini did anything wrong there. I don’t think we can justify alleged racism because of a celebration. "
The match will proceed under the shadow of the incident in Lisbon, with Madrid holding a 1-0 aggregate advantage and several availability and disciplinary questions unresolved as the teams prepare for Wednesday’s decider at the Bernabeu.
