Last weekend, Kylian Mbappé’s red card against Alavés sent shockwaves through La Liga. His late, high tackle on Antonio Blanco was fierce enough to prompt former Premier League referee Keith Hackett to call for a 10-game ban. “Mbappé’s challenge was brutal,” Hackett told Football Insider. “It put at risk the safety of his opponent. The referee acted swiftly by showing the red card. Now the authorities must show that there is no place in the game for this type of challenge by issuing Mbappé a 10-game ban.”
Most observers, however, see that punishment as unlikely. According to league sources, Mbappé is expected to serve only a one-match domestic suspension. That means he’ll sit out Real Madrid’s next La Liga fixture, but he’s still free to play in the Champions League and won’t miss the second-leg showdown against Arsenal on Wednesday.
Carlo Ancelotti, who didn’t sugarcoat the dangerous nature of Mbappé’s tackle, admitted the challenge overshadowed an otherwise crucial win. Still, the Madrid boss remained focused on the bigger picture. “We could have done much more, but it wasn’t just this,” he told reporters after the match. “We look at the statistics, as everyone does, and we’ll try to improve in the next game.”
Real Madrid are trailing Arsenal 3–0 on aggregate in the Champions League quarter-final, and fans have been desperate to know if Mbappé’s red card could affect his European status. It won’t. Since his dismissal came in a domestic match, the ban stays in Spain. The French striker is also expected to be available for the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona on April 26. Generally, a four-match or longer ban can spread across competitions, but that scenario now seems improbable given the referee’s match report noted Mbappé was “fighting for the ball.”
Will the Copa del Rey Final Be at Risk?
Mbappé’s odds of missing the cup final would spike only if the disciplinary committee extended his domestic suspension to four games. That no longer appears to be on the table. As of now, he’s likely to face Barcelona on April 26, and many inside the club are relieved.
Real Madrid supporters know how vital Mbappé is to their attacking game. He’s been pivotal since arriving in the summer, quickly becoming a key figure in a team aiming for success on all fronts. A long ban would have jeopardized more than just a league push, potentially derailing Madrid’s chase for silverware.
Ancelotti struck a cautious yet hopeful tone. “We will try,” he said when asked if Madrid can mount a comeback aka “Remontada against Arsenal. “Real is the only team that has done it many times, but we’ll try to do it once again. We’re aware of how much our fans and the stadium can help us. We’re going to try until the last minute.”
With Mbappé free to play on the continental stage, Wednesday’s duel with Arsenal promises to test Madrid’s resolve. But one thing is sure: that red card, for all its controversy, won’t keep the French superstar out of the Champions League or the Copa del Rey final.
