Real Madrid suffers a heavy blow in the Champions League

Latest reports from Spain indicate that Kylian Mbappe is likely to be sidelined for about a month due to a knee injury, meaning he risks missing both Champions League matches against Manchester City.

Real Madrid faces a major challenge in the UEFA Champions League after alarming news regarding Kylian Mbappe's health condition was announced. According to the latest report from SPORT, the French forward is now "almost certainly" unable to participate in both legs of the knockout round against rival Manchester City.

Mbappe's knee injury situation has become complicated. Persistent pain over recent days has worsened to the point that Real Madrid's medical team issued a red alert: continuing to play through pain at this stage carries extreme risks, potentially even leading to surgery—something both the club and the player want to avoid at all costs.

Given the seriousness of the issue, Mbappe made a rational decision. Instead of accelerating recovery with short-term solutions (like pain injections) to be ready for the big match, he chose to temporarily stop playing to focus entirely on rehabilitation. This decision received full support from the French Football Federation (FFF).

The reason behind this caution also relates to the approaching FIFA World Cup final. Protecting his physical condition to secure a starting spot for the national team is currently the top priority for the 1998-born star. Mbappe understands that a serious injury at this point could ruin both his season and his World Cup dream.

It is expected that Mbappe will be out for at least a month. During this period, he will undergo a specialized gym training regimen combined with physiotherapy to allow his knee to fully recover.

If this schedule remains unchanged, Real Madrid will suffer a significant loss as they will be without their key striker in several crucial La Liga matches against Celta Vigo, Elche, and especially the intense derby against Atletico Madrid. The most regrettable absence would be in the Champions League against Man City—where Mbappe's caliber has always been the key to victory.

The medical team will reassess the situation during the upcoming international break. If everything progresses favorably, Real Madrid fans can only hope to see the French superstar return to the pitch in April in peak physical condition.