Kylian Mbappe's Clasico participation hangs in the balance by a yellow card. Real Madrid will face Barcelona on May 10.
As the Clasico approaches, Kylian Mbappe is not certain to play in the match at Camp Nou. The Real Madrid forward is under threat due to the yellow cards accumulated this season. A trick could allow him to avoid the danger. Except that the Catalan press sees it coming.
The Clasico will be played in more than two weeks. And yet, the list of absent players for this fixture is already growing.
On the FC Barcelona side, it was learned this Thursday that Lamine Yamal will be unavailable until the end of the season. The Spanish winger is suffering from a left thigh injury that will not prevent him from playing in the 2026 World Cup.
As for Real Madrid, the bad news concerns central defender Eder Militao and attacking midfielder Arda Guler, also ruled out until the end of the campaign.
Between now and the confrontation scheduled for Sunday, May 10, at Camp Nou, both teams will try to stop the bleeding. But the Merengue risk tremors for Mbappe, 27.
Nothing to do with a physical problem, the Madrid forward is fine. The problem instead comes from his administrative sanctions. Booked four times this season in LaLiga, the Frenchman finds himself under threat of a fifth yellow card that would automatically earn him a suspension for the following match.
In other words, Mbappe would be deprived of the Clasico if he were booked again on the pitch at Espanyol-Barcelona on May 3.
Even with the risk known, the former Paris Saint-Germain player will not be safe. A clumsy or late intervention, a slightly too vehement protest, time-wasting, or even simulation. All these situations could cost him dearly. This is why Mundo Deportivo expects Mbappe to cheat against Betis on Friday.
"It would not be surprising if Mbappe 'forces' the fifth yellow card," writes the Spanish outlet. "This way, he would serve his suspension against Espanyol Barcelona," and not during the Clasico. The Catalans will therefore be on the lookout.
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