Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe is reportedly on track to avoid a lengthy suspension following his red card in Los Blancos’ narrow 1-0 victory over Deportivo Alaves on Sunday.
The match saw a tense and scrappy affair, with both teams receiving a red card. Mbappe’s sending off came after a studs-up challenge on Alaves midfielder Antonio Blanco’s shin, with the ball far from Mbappe’s reach. Initially, there was speculation that the French forward could face a five-match ban for the dangerous tackle, which would rule him out of several key fixtures.
However, Spanish outlet COPE has revealed that Mbappe is expected to receive only a one-match ban. This decision comes after referee Cesar Soto Grado recorded that the forward was challenging for the ball when the foul occurred.
If the challenge had been deemed a serious offence, Mbappe’s suspension could have meant missing Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey final against Barcelona on April 26, as La Liga bans extend to all domestic competitions under the Spanish football federation’s rules.
With the one-match ban, Mbappe will only miss the La Liga clash against Athletic Club on April 20, and will be available for the Getafe match and the highly anticipated cup final against Barcelona.
