Relief at Real Madrid as Mbappé’s injury is deemed not serious, but he will miss the next two matches

Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé has a mild sprain—nothing more. After a few days of rest and some physiotherapy, Mbappé should be back in action, pending progress.

There’s a collective sigh of relief in Valdebebas, and for good reason: the Copa del Rey final is just eight days away. Any major injury—say, even a Grade II sprain—would have seriously jeopardised his availability. But no. The alarm bells may have gone off, but this time it was a false alarm.

The French forward underwent tests Friday morning, and the results confirmed his optimism: he’s dealing with a mild sprain in his right ankle. Nothing unusual. His presence at La Cartuja is not in danger.

Mbappé will miss Real Madrid’s next two matches: the clash with Athletic Club on Sunday, April 20, for which he was already suspended after receiving a straight red card last weekend at Mendizorroza for a harsh challenge on Antonio Blanco, and the midweek fixture against Getafe on Wednesday, April 23. That absence, however, is more a precaution than a necessity.

The injury occurred late in the second leg against Arsenal, just 18 minutes from full-time. Mbappé went in to challenge Declan Rice, leapt to avoid contact, and landed awkwardly. The result: a painful, nasty-looking sprain. He immediately called for medical assistance, pounding the turf in frustration. He tried to continue, but couldn’t take more than a couple of steps without limping. Ultimately, he had to come off. The Bernabéu bid him farewell with boos, the sour ending to a nightmare of a night.

Initial tests pointed to a mild sprain, but the club opted to wait 48 hours to confirm the diagnosis. It’s standard practice—once the inflammation goes down, scans become clearer. The team had a rest day yesterday, and today, on their return to training, Mbappé underwent further testing. The conclusion was definitive: just a mild sprain. A few days without training, plenty of physio, and then he’ll be ready to return. There’s no cause for concern.

He wasn’t going to feature against Athletic Bilbao anyway—he’s serving a suspension for that red card against Blanco. So now, Mbappé can take these next few days calmly, without the pressure of the calendar. The club hasn’t ruled him out for Getafe, but they won’t take any risks. If he’s pain-free, he might get a few minutes, but only if the risk of a setback is zero.

Most likely, he’ll be on the bench at the Coliseum, saving himself for the big one at La Cartuja. The only real question is whether he’ll get some minutes in the second half or sit the whole match out. That’ll be the first of two massive games left this season. The second? Montjuïc, two weeks later.

In those 180—maybe even 210—minutes, not just the season is on the line, but futures: players, coaches, staff. Dismissals and renewals. And Mbappé knows exactly where his sights are set: La Cartuja. That’s the target. And it looks like he’ll get there.