Suspension looming: Mbappé faces a major dilemma ahead of the Clásico

Europe 23 April 2026 at 05:12

Mohamed Rek

News Editor

24.04.26 FT LaLiga Spain

Real Betis

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Real Madrid

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Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé finds himself in a real bind as the highly anticipated showdown against FC Barcelona approaches, set for May 10 at Spotify Camp Nou.

The French international is walking a disciplinary tightrope ahead of El Clásico: a single yellow card against RCD Espanyol would be enough to rule him out of this blockbuster fixture.

Booked four times, Mbappé risks missing the Clasico

Already sitting on four bookings, Mbappé is now just one yellow card away from an automatic one-match suspension.

According to the disciplinary regulations of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, any player who accumulates five yellow cards is suspended for the next match.

In this context, two scenarios are taking shape: play with extreme caution against Espanyol on May 3, or deliberately pick up a yellow card in the upcoming match against Real Betis in order to approach the Clasico with a clean slate and no disciplinary pressure.

> A strategic dilemma, far from trivial, as the La Liga title race heats up. The Catalan club currently tops the table with 82 points, nine clear of their Madrid rivals, making every detail potentially decisive in the battle for the crown.

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