Madrid Faces Challenges Ahead of Spanish Super Cup

omidbasir- Real Madrid’s quest for their first trophy of 2026 has encountered a significant obstacle before their departure for Saudi Arabia. On Monday, the club announced its traveling squad for the Spanish Super Cup, revealing that key forward Kylian Mbappe has been excluded due to an ongoing knee injury.

The absence of the French star is undoubtedly a setback for Los Blancos. However, the squad announcement also brought some good news, as English full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has received medical clearance to return to play, having recovered from a recent thigh injury that sidelined him for several weeks.

Spanish reports indicate that the decision to leave Mbappe in Madrid was not made lightly; it was, however, deemed the only sensible choice. According to AS, Mbappe is dealing with a sprain in his left knee, rendering him unable to participate in Wednesday’s semi-final against Atletico Madrid.

While there was a glimmer of hope for his potential availability for the final on Sunday, medical professionals have ruled that out entirely. The club has opted for a conservative treatment approach, prioritizing Mbappe’s long-term health over immediate participation. The directive from the club’s leadership is clear: Mbappe will only return to action when he is fully fit, rather than playing at a compromised level as he has recently.

The injury is believed to have originated from a collision during the match against Celta Vigo on December 7. Although Mbappe missed the following game against Manchester City, he returned to play 270 minutes across subsequent matches against Alaves, Talavera, and Sevilla. Internally, it is now acknowledged that he was not at full fitness during those games, and the cumulative stress has necessitated a complete rest period for the joint.

While the headlines will focus on Mbappe’s absence, Alexander-Arnold’s return provides a timely boost for manager Xabi Alonso. The England international has faced his own injury challenges this season, with only eight La Liga appearances to his name, the last of which came in early December. His recovery from a thigh injury allows him to slot back into the starting lineup for the derby against Atletico, and his ability to break down defenses will be crucial in the absence of the team’s primary goal scorer.

With Mbappe sidelined, the goal-scoring pressure will shift to Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo. However, the emergence of young talent Gonzalo Garcia, affectionately nicknamed ‘Golzalo’ by the media, is generating considerable buzz in the Spanish capital. The academy product, who has an impressive record of 159 goals at youth level, demonstrated his readiness for the senior stage with a recent hat-trick against Real Betis. As Real Madrid seeks to compensate for the loss of a player who netted 59 goals in 2025, Xabi Alonso may look to the promising striker to lead the attack in Jeddah.

The decision to rest Mbappe is also influenced by a demanding fixture schedule. Upon returning from Saudi Arabia, Real Madrid faces a packed calendar that could see them playing seven matches in just 20 days. This includes a Copa del Rey Round of 16 tie on January 13, La Liga matches against Levante and Villarreal, and important Champions League fixtures against Monaco and Benfica. As the season enters a pivotal stage, Real Madrid understands the necessity of having a fully fit Mbappe for the challenges ahead, even if it means sacrificing his participation in the upcoming desert battle.