Kylian Mbappe was sent off for the first time in his Real Madrid career as the reigning LaLiga champions held on to win 1-0 at Alaves on April 13.
Madrid’s busy run-in includes a Champions League quarter-final second leg at home to Arsenal and the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona, as well as their attempt to retain the Spanish title.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side were four points behind Barca with seven league games remaining for each team, helped by 22 goals and three assists by Mbappe in their first 29 top-flight matches of the season.
How long is Mbappe’s suspension and which games is the Real Madrid top scorer set to miss? Here’s the latest on his punishment.
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Mbappe red card: Real Madrid vs Arsenal
The good news for Madrid is that Mbappe will be available to face Arsenal on Wednesday (20:00 BST) because his suspension will only apply domestically.
Only four players still involved in the competition had outscored Mbappe’s total of seven goals before the second legs of the quarter-finals.
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It is likely that Mbappe will have completed his suspension by the time of El Clasico, which takes place at Sevilla’s La Cartuja Stadium on April 26 (21:00).
There is, however, a chance that the Spanish Football Federation’s disciplinary committee will ban Mbappe for at least four matches, which would rule him out of the final.
“It would be an extreme decision, but it is not out of the question,” said Fernando S Tavero, the Real Madrid editor at Spanish outlet AS.
The severity of the sanction will depend upon referee Soto Grado’s match report.
— Real Madrid C.F.
(@realmadriden) April 14, 2025
How long will Mbappe’s suspension last?
Mbappe is more likely to be suspended for one or two matches. “Precedents suggest it will be two,” said Iturralde Gonzalez , the referee analyst for AS and Carrusel Deportivo.
Which games will Mbappe be suspended for?
The 26-year-old is certain to Madrid’s home match against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday (20:00) and could sit out their trip to midtable Getafe three days later (20:30).
The Copa del Rey final comes after that, with Madrid then hosting a Celta Vigo side chasing European qualification on May 3 (20:00) and visiting Barca on May 11 (15:15).
Craig Burley called Kylian Mbappé’s tackle on Antonio Blanco which resulted in a red card an “utter disgrace.” pic.twitter.com/8oJaeC0x9E
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 13, 2025
Mbappe red card: Why was he sent off?
Grado initially booked Mbappe for a mistimed tackle on midfielder Antonio Blanco’s calf, only for Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Gil Manzano to review the incident before the France forward was sent off in the 38th minute.
Assistant manager Davide Ancelotti – deputising for suspended boss Carlo Ancelotti – did not adjust his line-up after Mbappe’s dismissal, although Vinicius Junior was sent on to patrol the left flank in place of Rodrygo with 28 minutes remaining.
Mbappe became the second Real Madrid forward to be sent off during the first half of a LaLiga match in the 21st century, according to AS, who added that Ruud van Nistelrooy was given his marching orders before the break for the club against Atletico Madrid in 2008.
“I didn’t speak to him after the game,” said Davide Ancelotti. “He’s not a violent guy; he’s apologised and is aware of his mistake.
“It’s a clear red card and he’s suffered the consequences. I’m sure that the many little fouls that have been done to him made him react that way, even if it’s the wrong way to react. I’m not justifying it, but it may have been because of that”.
Mbappe Real Madrid stats
At the time of his sending off, Paris Saint-Germain all-time top scorer Mbappe had produced 32 goals and four assists in all competitions since joining Madrid following the expiry of his contract at the French giants last summer, including 22 in the league.
Mbappe was three goals behind Liga top scorer Robert Lewandowski, whose side were four points above Madrid at the top of the table.
Mbappe had received four bookings in 2024/25. The last of his three dismissals for PSG came in April 2019.
