Real Madrid discover the full length of Kylian Mbappe’s suspension after shocking tackle against Alaves.

Mbappe Likely to Receive Just One-Match Ban After Dangerous Tackle on Blanco

 

Kylian Mbappe is expected to receive only a one-game suspension following a dangerous challenge on Alaves midfielder Antonio Blanco during Real Madrid’s 1-0 La Liga victory on Sunday.

 

The narrow win came after Barcelona’s earlier 1-0 triumph over Leganes, and it kept the pressure on in the title race. Eduardo Camavinga scored the game’s only goal, with Raul Asencio having an early strike disallowed. The game took a dramatic turn when Mbappe was shown a straight red card in the 38th minute following a VAR check, reducing Madrid to ten men.

 

This marks Mbappe’s first red card since joining Real Madrid, the result of a studs-up challenge that caught Blanco’s calf. His dismissal also made him the first Madrid forward to be sent off in the first half of a La Liga game since Ruud van Nistelrooy in 2008.

 

Assistant coach Davide Ancelotti, filling in for his suspended father Carlo, revealed that Mbappe apologized to Blanco after the incident. “Kylian isn’t a violent person. He knew he was wrong and apologized,” Ancelotti said. “It was a clear red. He reacted poorly after enduring many small fouls, though that doesn’t excuse it.”

 

Spanish outlet COPE reports that Mbappe will likely face just a one-match suspension, avoiding a longer ban. Referee Cesar Soto Grado noted that the Frenchman was attempting to play the ball, though he used excessive force. That detail could work in his favor.

 

Unless the Spanish Football Federation decides otherwise, Mbappe will miss only the upcoming La Liga match against Athletic Club. There had been concerns he might face a suspension of up to four games, which would’ve ruled him out of domestic matches including the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona on April 26.

 

Fortunately for Real Madrid, the red card has no bearing on Mbappe’s availability for their Champions League semi-final second leg against Arsenal, where the team aims to overturn a three-goal deficit.