Kylian Mbappé is out for the Benfica second leg

For the playoff second leg against Benfica

Real superstar Kylian Mbappé is out

Setback for Real Madrid before the decisive premier class duel against Benfica Lisbon: top scorer Kylian Mbappé cannot play.

Real Madrid will play in the second leg of the Champions League playoff against Benfica Lisbon without their top scorer Kylian Mbappé. The 25-year-old Frenchman is suffering from a knee injury that has been affecting him for weeks.

Coach Álvaro Arbeloa said on Tuesday that Mbappé was “ready to play” despite the pain. A few hours later, however, those responsible decided to rest the striker in order not to aggravate his injury, as the AFP news agency learned from team circles.

Mbappé leads the top scorers list in the current Champions League season with 13 goals and is a crucial factor for the Royals’ offensive. His absence could affect Real Madrid’s chances in the second leg, as the team go into the game with a slim 1-0 lead from last week. This game was marred by alleged racist insults against Real’s goalscorer Vinicius Junior in Lisbon.

Mbappé’s knee injury, an injury to the outer ligaments in his left knee, had already affected him before the Christmas break. In the 1-2 defeat against Osasuna in the league last Saturday, the striker appeared inhibited and was unable to develop his usual dynamism. It is not known whether the world champion will be out for longer.