Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe will miss this week’s Spanish Super Cup as he recovers from a knee sprain.
The French international, who leads the club’s scoring charts, was left out of the squad announced on Tuesday for the tournament in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Diagnosed with the injury last week, the 27-year-old is expected to be sidelined for around three weeks.
Madrid, under coach Xabi Alonso, face Atletico Madrid in Thursday’s semifinal, while Barcelona meet Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday. Alonso is under mounting pressure following a sluggish start to the campaign, with his side trailing champions Barcelona by four points in La Liga.
The coach had told reporters last week that the club would “do everything we can to get him back as soon as possible.” He added: “We’re going to be pushing the deadlines; it’s very much a matter of feelings. When is as soon as possible? That’s the question. I don’t know. The Super Cup? We hope.”
Mbappe recently matched Cristiano Ronaldo’s club record of 59 goals in a calendar year during Real’s 2-0 league victory over Sevilla on December 20.
His prolific form contrasts sharply with that of strike partner Vinicius Junior, who netted 22 times last season but has managed only five goals across all competitions this term, and has not scored since October.
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