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Los Blancos could leave their biggest weapon on the bench for the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona
Real Madrid head into the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona with one huge question mark hanging over their starting lineup: Kylian Mbappe’s fitness.
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Despite travelling with the squad to Seville, the French superstar may have to start on the bench after struggling to fully recover from an ankle injury.
Mbappe’s ankle injury leaves Ancelotti with a big decision
Ever since Kylian Mbappe picked up an ankle sprain during the Champions League defeat to Arsenal, Real Madrid fans have been nervously watching his recovery.
While the attacker returned to training earlier this week, reports from Spain, including Diario AS and Radio MARCA, suggest he is still not at full strength. Initially, hopes were high that Mbappe would be fit enough to start, but ongoing pain in his ankle has made his participation from the opening whistle unlikely.
Carlo Ancelotti, already favouring a more stacked midfield setup with a 4-4-2 formation, now faces a critical decision on whether to risk his star man or keep him fresh for potential second-half heroics. Real Madrid will not want to gamble on Mbappe’s health, especially considering he has been their top goalscorer this season and a key weapon against Barcelona’s high defensive line.
The final decision will reportedly come after a late fitness test, but as it stands, it looks like Rodrygo Goes and Vinicius Junior will lead the line instead.
Rodrygo ready to step up as Real Madrid adjust attack
If Mbappe is indeed sidelined at kickoff, Carlo Ancelotti is likely to turn to Rodrygo Goes to fill the void alongside Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham in attack.
Rodrygo, who was originally the player expected to drop to the bench if Ancelotti went for a midfield-heavy approach, now finds himself in a critical starting role.
Even though Mbappe's absence would undoubtedly be a blow, especially given his standout performances for Los Blancos this season, Real Madrid are confident that they can still find the goals they need without risking further injury to their marquee signing.
For Ancelotti, the priority is clear: win the final without jeopardising the long-term fitness of a player they expect to be central to their ambitions for years to come.
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