Real Madrid have confirmed that star striker Kylian Mbappe has suffered a left thigh injury, which forced him to be substituted in the first half of their 3-2 win over Atalanta in the Champions League. Mbappe had opened the scoring for Los Blancos, but lasted less than 35 minutes on the pitch before being replaced.

The French striker’s injury is his second muscle injury of the season, and Real Madrid have announced that his progress will be monitored. Initial reports suggested that Mbappe could be sidelined for up to 10 days, which would rule him out of Saturday’s crucial La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano.

Mbappe’s injury is a significant blow to Real Madrid, who are already dealing with a growing injury crisis. The striker’s availability for the Intercontinental Cup final on December 18 is also in doubt, which would be a major setback for the club. 

Los Blancos revealed this in a statement where they clarified Mbappe’s condition in a statement.

“After the tests carried out today on our player Kylian Mbappe by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with an injury to the thigh of his left leg.” the statement read.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti faces a daunting task in rotating his squad competitively amidst the injury crisis. The Italian tactician has emphasized squad depth throughout the season, and this moment will test the resilience and flexibility of his team. A win in Vallecas would allow Real Madrid to leapfrog their arch-rivals, FC Barcelona, and momentarily claim the top position in the La Liga standings.

The injury to Mbappe adds to the uncertainty surrounding Real Madrid’s upcoming fixtures. The club will be hoping that the striker can make a swift recovery and return to action soon. In the meantime, Ancelotti will need to rely on his squad’s depth to navigate the challenging schedule ahead.

Real Madrid’s next match is against Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, followed by the Intercontinental Cup final on December 18.