Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has confirmed that Kylian Mbappé is fully fit and in contention for Sunday’s Spanish Super Cup final against long-time rivals Barcelona, easing concerns over the French star’s recent injury scare.
Mbappé was notably absent from Madrid’s squad that traveled to Saudi Arabia for the Super Cup semifinal clash against Atlético Madrid after suffering a minor knee sprain earlier in the week. Despite missing their leading scorer, Los Blancos edged past their city rivals with a hard-fought 2–1 victory in Jeddah on Thursday, January 9, securing a highly anticipated El Clásico final.
Addressing the media after the semifinal win, Alonso provided a positive update on Mbappé’s condition. The coach revealed that the forward had responded well to treatment and was no longer experiencing discomfort. “He is feeling much better now and is in good shape. He has the same chance of playing as everyone else in the squad,” Alonso said, adding that Mbappé was scheduled to fly to Jeddah on Friday to rejoin his teammates.
At 27, Mbappé remains a key figure in Madrid’s attacking setup. Since joining the club in the summer of 2024, he has been in prolific form, leading the team’s scoring charts with 29 goals in 24 appearances across all competitions. His potential return comes at a crucial moment, with Madrid set to face reigning Super Cup champions Barcelona, who cruised to a dominant 5–0 victory over Athletic Bilbao in the other semifinal.
However, Madrid’s recent performances have underlined an important reality under Alonso’s stewardship: the team is capable of delivering results even without its biggest star. Statistical trends suggest that Mbappé’s absence has not significantly weakened the side’s overall effectiveness.
Since his arrival, Madrid have averaged 2.16 points per game when Mbappé starts, a figure that slightly increases to 2.18 points in matches he misses. Goal production shows a similarly marginal difference, with the team scoring an average of 2.19 goals per match with Mbappé compared to 2.09 without him.
Defensively, the numbers are even more revealing. When Mbappé is unavailable, Madrid concede fewer goals on average, dropping from 1.19 goals per game to exactly 1.00, while the number of clean sheets remains largely unchanged. This suggests a more compact and balanced team shape in his absence.
There are, however, subtle changes in Madrid’s attacking dynamics without the French forward. The team takes fewer shots per match, falling from an average of 17.8 to 15.4, and creates slightly fewer clear-cut chances. At the same time, opponents tend to enjoy more possession and attempt more shots, indicating a shift in how games unfold.
As Real Madrid prepare for another high-stakes encounter with Barcelona, Alonso now faces a welcome dilemma: whether to restore his star forward to the starting lineup or trust the collective rhythm that has served the team well. Either way, the Super Cup final promises to be a compelling test of Madrid’s depth, balance, and title ambitions.
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