Real Madrid are heading to Barcelona for a match that could decide the fate of the Spanish league.
The gap at the top is currently 11 points and Real Madrid need a win to prevent their rivals from celebrating a title victory on the night. For Barcelona, a win or even a draw will be enough to officially secure the La Liga trophy.
Alvaro Arbeloa’s side is under intense pressure after a difficult week following reports of a heated confrontation between Fede Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni, which resulted in heavy fines for both players.
Kylian Mbappe warms up prior to the LaLiga match between Real Betis Balompie and Real Madrid CF.Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images
Off the pitch, Kylian Mbappe is also facing a tough stretch. The star forward has been the target of significant backlash, including an online petition calling for his departure that has already gained millions of signatures.
Amidst this tension, Mbappe has been left out of the squad for today’s match.
Kylian Mbappe Left out of the Squad before Barcelona Match
Although the French forward seemed to have recovered from the injury he picked up against Betis, the coaching staff decided not to take any risks.
Mbappe, 27, has not featured since being forced off with a muscular injury during Madrid’s La Liga draw with Real Betis on April 24 and missed last week’s win over Espanyol.
Despite returning to practice with the intention of playing against Barcelona, reports claim he had to cut his training session short on Saturday and was unable to pass a final fitness test on Sunday morning.
He left Saturday’s training early after feeling discomfort in his left leg during the final part of the session.
Losing Mbappe is a major setback for Madrid, especially considering he usually scores against Barcelona every 67 minutes.
Arbeloa has a few options to replace him. He could give Gonzalo García the start, or he might choose to pair Vinicius and Brahim up front.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on May 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the Soccer section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
