Why is Mbappe not starting in Barcelona vs Real Madrid Copa del Rey final
Why is Mbappe not starting in Barcelona vs Real Madrid Copa del Rey final
The bitter rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid will pen another chapter in their storied saga at Seville’s La Cartuja stadium.
This will be only the eighth time they have locked horns in the Spanish Cup final, with a balanced historical record.
Real edges the tally, having claimed victory in four of the seven finals, including memorable wins in 2011 and 2014 that still resonate with football enthusiasts due to their intensity and unforgettable goals.
But one name that was missing from the starting list was that of Kylian Mbappe.
Mbappe was substituted with an ankle problem during Madrid’s Champions League loss to Arsenal last week. Hence, he missed the La Liga match against Athletic Bilbai.
However, he has reached match fitness and manager Carlo Ancelotti might have chosen to bench him as a precautionary measure.
“For tomorrow’s game they will not be ready, but they will train on these days, and I think they will be available for the game on Saturday,” Ancelotti had previously said.
“Mbappe is hurting because of his injury, because he cannot help the team — he’s doing everything he can to be ready for Saturday,” continued Ancelotti.
Published on Apr 27, 2025
