BARCELONA — Real Madrid is hoping Kylian Mbappé recovers from a knee issue in time to face a high-flying Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup on Sunday.
Mbappé missed Madrid’s hard-fought 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid in Thursday’s semifinal, but coach Xabi Alonso said the France striker would travel from Spain to Saudi Arabia, where the mini-Super Cup tournament is being held.
Alonso wouldn’t confirm if Mbappé will play, but said the team’s top scorer is “much better, he’s been training and he’s feeling good.”
Mbappé, who leads La Liga in goals this season, has been sidelined for two games with a left knee sprain.
Also this weekend, the teams not involved in the Spanish Super Cup will play a regular round of La Liga matches as the domestic competition reaches its midway point.
Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 in La Liga in October thanks to goals by Mbappé and Jude Bellingham. That victory, however, marked the high point of its first season under Alonso. Since then the fortunes of the rivals have inverted. Barcelona has overtaken Madrid for the league lead and produced much more impressive performances while speculation has grown about Alonso’s job security.