Mbappe to miss Real Madrid's trip to Rayo Vallecano, Camavinga returns

Kylian Mbappe will miss Real Madrid's LaLiga clash with Rayo Vallecano this weekend, but Eduardo Camavinga is fit enough to return, Carlo Ancelotti said on Friday.

After becoming the ninth player to reach 50 Champions League goals in Madrid's 3-2 victory over Atalanta in the Champions League on Tuesday, Mbappe was forced off with a thigh injury in the 36th minute.

The Frenchman was replaced by Rodrygo in midweek, and Ancelotti confirmed that Mbappe had not recovered in time, but was confident the issue was nothing serious.

Camavinga, meanwhile, picked up his injury during their 2-0 defeat away to Liverpool in November, but has stepped up his recovery and ready to feature for Los Blancos.

"Kylian is not serious, he won't be here tomorrow, but he will travel to Qatar [for Wednesday's FIFA Intercontinental Cup final] and there, we will assess the risk. Camavinga is fine, he's available for tomorrow," said Ancelotti.

"In the last few breaks he's been here, resting, working... you don't know. Fortunately he will only be out for a short period, and he won't lose what he has achieved in recent times."

@Camavinga #RMCity pic.twitter.com/5KRtJByqQ6
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) December 13, 2024

Mbappe is Real Madrid's leading scorer with nine league goals in 15 matches so far, although the club trail leaders Barcelona by two points in LaLiga.

Having lost 2-1 at Athletic Bilbao in the league, they bounced back with a 3-0 win at Girona, followed by a Champions League victory over Atalanta in midweek.

Ancelotti acknowledged that the victory over Atalanta, who lead Serie A, could be a big moment in their season, with their passage to the knockout rounds not yet being secure.

"We pulled off a tough night. There was a lot of commitment, attitude. Collective work. It was a complete match that adds optimism, of course," he said.