Barcelona vs. Real Madrid: Will Kylian Mbappe start for Los Blancos in El Clasico?

Kylian Mbappe came through Real Madrid’s training session on Thursday unscathed, with the attacker in line to start against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday night.

The France international suffered an ankle injury during the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal on April 16, and he then missed out against Athletic Bilbao and Getafe in La Liga.

Mbappe would not have featured against Athletic regardless of his fitness status, as he was suspended for the game with the Lions, but he was unable to return against Getafe earlier this week.

There had been serious doubt surrounding his involvement in El Clasico, but Mbappe was back in training on Thursday, with the forward handing Real Madrid a huge fitness boost ahead of the game with Barcelona.

Real Madrid will hold a double session on Friday, with Mbappe again set to be involved, and providing that the 26-year-old comes through unscathed, he will be in the XI for the latest instalment of El Clasico.

© Imago

Mbappe set to start against Barcelona in Copa del Rey final

There has been criticism of Mbappe this season despite the fact that the forward has scored 32 times and registered four assists in 49 appearances for Real Madrid since his arrival on a free transfer last summer.

Mbappe has 22 La Liga goals to his name this term, while he managed seven in the Champions League before Carlo Ancelotti’s side were knocked out of the competition in the quarter-finals by Arsenal.

The forward has only netted once in the Copa del Rey this term, but he has been used sparingly in the competition, which was not initially a priority for the Spanish and European champions.

There remain question marks over whether Mbappe has improved Real Madrid as a team, but he could potentially break the 40-goal mark during his first campaign for the capital giants.

© Imago

Mendy is also back in Real Madrid training

Real Madrid are set to be handed a further boost for El Clasico, with Ferland Mendy also returning to training on Thursday, and the France international is likely to be in the squad for the Copa del Rey final.

Mendy has not featured for Los Blancos since March 12, spending a lengthy period on the sidelines with a muscular problem, but the left-back is set to be back in the squad for El Clasico.

However, Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao remain on the sidelines with serious knee injuries, while Eduardo Camavinga has been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign with the problem that he suffered against Getafe.

David Alaba will also need to be assessed after being forced off in the team’s last match; the defender’s muscular issue is not thought to be as serious as first feared, and he could travel for the Copa del Rey final.

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