Real Madrid to take no risks with Mbappe at Lille in Champions League

Football
By AFP | Oct 02, 2024

Real Madrid's French forward Kylian Mbappe (C) looks on as he takes part in a training session on the eve of a UEFA Champions League football match against Lille LOSC. [AFP]

Kylian Mbappe has recovered faster than expected from a thigh injury but Real Madrid will take no risks with the fitness of the France superstar in Wednesday's Champions League game at Lille, coach Carlo Ancelotti insisted.

The France captain suffered the injury in Real's 3-2 win against Alaves in La Liga a week ago, and played no part in Sunday's derby draw away to Atletico Madrid.

However, he travelled with the Real squad to France on Tuesday, raising the possibility that he could return in time to feature for his new club in his home country.

"He has recovered quickly. He only trained individually yesterday and he has not lost any of his physical condition," Ancelotti told reporters in Lille on Tuesday.

"Today he will train with the rest of the team and then we will make the right decision, bearing in mind that the last thing we want to do is take a risk."

Ancelotti added: "If there is no risk, he will play from the first minute."

Mbappe, 25, had hoped to come up against his 17-year-old brother Ethan, who left Paris Saint-Germain for Lille during the close season. However, the younger Mbappe is sidelined due to injury.

Real, the reigning European champions, began their defence of the title with a 3-1 win at home to Stuttgart two weeks ago, with Mbappe among the scorers in that game.

He has netted seven times in nine games in all competitions since joining Real from PSG.

Lille are looking to bounce back from a 2-0 loss away to Portuguese champions Sporting Lisbon on matchday one.

Share this story
Universities raise the bar in KUSF games
The just concluded Kenya Universities Sports Federation (KUSF) Nairobi North Conference League has once again revealed the growing competitiveness of university sports in Kenya.
Ronaldo, 41, leads Portugal into his sixth World Cup
Veteran Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo will lead his country into the 2026 World Cup this summer after coach Roberto Martinez named the 41-year-old in his squad on Tuesday.
Kenya's Afcon dream is under threat as FKF officials fight
FKF president Hussein Mohamed insists the National Executive Committee meeting of April 24, which voted to suspend him, was irregular, unconstitutional, and in his own words, a coup.
Kenyans now shift focus to Commonwealth Games after shining at Africa meet in Accra
After an overall second place in the continent at the 24th African Senior Athletics Championships, Kenyan stars have firmly set their sights on the Commonwealth Games in July.
New motorsports body up and running with autocross action at Stoni Athi
There was jubilation as fans welcomed the recognition of Motorsports Kenya Federation by the government as the official and legitimate motorsport governing body in the country.
.
RECOMMENDED NEWS