Kylian Mbappé has been a key player in the attack of Real Madrid, but his future with the team was put in doubt after he suffered a muscular issue during the match against Atalanta in Bergamo, in the Champions League. The French forward was unable to finish the first half and will undergo an MRI, with the club hoping it’s not a serious injury and that he will be available for the UEFA Intercontinental Cup.

Expectations around his recovery

After scoring the first goal of the match and being involved in three other clear chances for Real Madrid, Mbappé began feeling muscular discomfort in the back of his left thigh. After 35 minutes, the player limped off the field at the Gewiss Stadium. The initial medical examination in the locker room was optimistic. Coach Carlo Ancelotti said after the match: "It’s a strain, a discomfort in the hamstring. It doesn’t seem serious."

Possible absences and return to action

There is optimism within Real Madrid that this is just a muscular overload and that Mbappé stopped in time before the injury could worsen. If this theory is confirmed, Mbappé will be ruled out for Saturday’s LaLiga match against Rayo Vallecano, but he could join the squad for the final of the UEFA Intercontinental Cup in Qatar, scheduled for Wednesday, December 18.

This muscular setback has interrupted Mbappé’s recent good form, where he showed significant recovery after missing two penalties in losses for Real Madrid against Liverpool in the Champions League and Athletic Club in LaLiga. With goals against Girona and Atalanta, the Frenchman has scored in two consecutive matches for the second time with Real Madrid, having previously achieved an even greater streak of five consecutive games with goals.