Kylian Mbappé Ruled Out of El Clásico as Barcelona Close In on LaLiga Title

Real Madrid manager Álvaro Arbeloa confirmed Kylian Mbappé’s absence from Sunday’s El Clásico against Barcelona by leaving the French forward out of the club’s published matchday squad on the morning of the fixture.

According to The Athletic, Mbappé has not fully recovered from the hamstring injury he sustained during Real Madrid‘s match against Real Betis on Friday, April 24. Although the 25-year-old had returned to group training sessions in the days leading up to the fixture, raising hopes of his availability, reports indicate he did not feel good in his final training session before the game. That prompted both the medical staff and coaching hierarchy to withdraw him from consideration.

The timing of the injury setback could not be more damaging for Real Madrid. A failure to win at Camp Nou would hand Hansi Flick’s Barcelona the 2025/26 LaLiga title in front of their fiercest rivals — a scenario Los Blancos will be desperate to prevent. With the Spanish league title race effectively reduced to this single fixture, Madrid’s squad must now attempt to deny Barcelona without their most high-profile attacking option.

Mbappé’s absence deepens an already turbulent period for the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner since his move to the Spanish capital. The forward is currently the subject of a widely circulated online petition from a section of Real Madrid supporters demanding his departure from the club. He also faced internal scrutiny earlier in his recovery after reportedly taking an unsanctioned vacation to Sardinia during the initial phase of his rehabilitation from the same hamstring complaint.

Since joining Real Madrid, Mbappé has faced persistent scrutiny over his performances relative to expectations, and this latest setback adds further pressure ahead of what will likely be a pivotal summer for the club’s strategic planning. The El Clásico rivalry remains one of the most watched club fixtures in world football, and his absence removes a significant threat from Madrid’s forward line at the most critical moment of the domestic season.

Barcelona, under Flick, have enjoyed a resurgent campaign and will now enter the fixture at Camp Nou with the knowledge that a single point is sufficient to mathematically secure the LaLiga title directly at the expense of their traditional rivals.