Amid Kylian Mbappe's availability doubts, Real Madrid's injury woes deepens

Real Madrid head into Sunday’s LaLiga clash against Alaves facing a mounting injury crisis that threatens to derail their domestic campaign. With up to 12 players potentially unavailable and serious doubts surrounding Kylian Mbappe’s fitness, pressure continues to intensify on head coach Xabi Alonso at a critical stage of the season.

Mbappe remains a major question mark

Kylian Mbappe’s availability remains uncertain despite the French forward returning to training on Friday. The forward missed Real Madrid’s midweek Champions League defeat to Manchester City after experiencing knee discomfort during last weekend’s league fixture against Celta at the Santiago Bernabeu. Compounding matters, Mbappe is also dealing with a broken finger, further complicating his recovery timeline.

While Mbappe has not trained consistently with the main group in recent days, sources indicate he has not yet been fully ruled out of the Alaves encounter. His potential inclusion will depend on how his knee responds in the final hours before kickoff, with a late decision expected regarding his travel to Vitoria.

Defensive crisis leaves Alonso short-handed

Even without Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid’s squad issues run far deeper. The club will be without Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy and Eder Militao due to injury, while Álvaro Carreras and Fran García are suspended. The situation leaves Alonso without a single senior full-back available for selection, a scenario that severely limits tactical flexibility.

As a result, homegrown teenager Víctor Valdepenas is expected to be called up to help plug the defensive gaps, highlighting the scale of Madrid’s current personnel problems.

Key names still doubtful

Further concerns loom with Eduardo Camavinga, Fede Valverde, Antonio Rudiger and Dean Huijsen all listed as doubtful for the trip to Alaves. Their availability could prove decisive, particularly given Madrid’s recent struggles to control games in midfield and maintain defensive stability.

Pressure mounts in LaLiga title race

Sunday’s fixture carries significant weight for Alonso, whose side trails Barcelona by seven points in the LaLiga standings. Real Madrid’s form offers little margin for error, with just one win recorded in their last five league outings. Dropped points against Alaves would risk further ground being lost in the title race and intensify scrutiny on the coaching staff.