Where is Kylian Mbappe in El Clasico? Real Madrid star doesn’t start vs. FC Barcelona in Copa del Rey final

Sports news » Where is Kylian Mbappe in El Clasico? Real Madrid star doesn’t start vs. FC Barcelona in Copa del Rey final

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by Gareth Dunlop

9 months ago 131

Preview Where is Kylian Mbappe in El Clasico? Real Madrid star doesn’t start vs. FC Barcelona in Copa del Rey final

The outcome of Real Madrid`s season and Barcelona`s pursuit of a treble are significantly impacted as they prepare to face off in the Copa del Rey final this Saturday. With matches coming thick and fast as the season approaches its climax, both teams are dealing with considerable injury issues when setting up for this crucial game. Barcelona is confirmed to be without Alejandro Balde and Robert Lewandowski, while Real Madrid has recently added David Alaba and Eduardo Camavinga to their list of unavailable players. In a surprising turn of events, the club also announced that star forward Kylian Mbappe will not feature in the starting lineup.

Both managers have spent the entire season balancing numerous injuries while trying to extract the best performance from their squads. Now, with a major trophy on the line, the decisions they make carry even greater weight. We recently got a glimpse of Barcelona`s attack without Lewandowski in their 1-0 victory against Mallorca. Despite Hansi Flick`s side taking an impressive 40 shots during that match, they struggled to find the clinical edge. However, with key players like Raphinha having been rested, this lack of finishing precision might not be a major concern. What did stand out was the fluid interchange between Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres.

It was often difficult to tell which player was operating as the central striker and which was in a midfield role, keeping the opposition defense constantly unsettled as they couldn`t predict where each would appear. Adding Lamine Yamal and Raphinha into this dynamic could present a genuine nightmare for Madrid`s already stretched defense to handle. Meanwhile, Pedri is enjoying an excellent season, setting the tempo behind them, and this is likely where Madrid will need to focus their defensive efforts.

Federico Valverde is expected to be partly tasked with keeping a close watch on Pedri, but the absence of Camavinga will undoubtedly be a blow. Camavinga is a vital component of Madrid`s setup due to his versatility, capable of playing in midfield or dropping into defensive positions when needed. However, this cup final scenario might heavily favor the experience of Luka Modrić. Having benefited from a full week of rest, the 39-year-old Croatian veteran is set to be fresh and ready exactly when his team needs him most.

Despite Camavinga and Aurélien Tchouaméni being seen as part of the plan to transition away from Modrić in the long term, he continues to defy expectations, making 30 league appearances for Los Blancos just this season.

The other major surprise, of course, is Mbappé`s non-inclusion in the starting XI. His arrival was anticipated to herald a new era of trophy success for Real Madrid, but it has instead seemed to create an imbalance in the attack at times. While he has certainly had periods of prolific goalscoring, the overall combination hasn`t fully clicked on the most significant occasions for Madrid yet. Given Barcelona`s tendency to play a high defensive line aimed at catching forwards offside, Mbappé`s pace would have been ideal for stretching the back line, creating space for Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior to operate around him. Without him, it remains to be seen who will effectively step up in attack alongside Vini Jr.

Based on current circumstances, things appear to lean in favor of Barcelona in their quest for a treble. However, this certainly doesn`t mean Real Madrid cannot win this match. They will simply need to deliver a significantly improved attacking performance compared to their recent outing against Arsenal.

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