There was no comeback and no room for miracles. Arsenal, the only team in Europe not to have lost to the Champions League kings in four games and to have beaten them three times, once again got the better of the reigning champions with a display of maturity that left the Santiago Bernabéu in a state of helplessness, with a team lacking in football and leadership.
Leadership that was expected from players such as Kylian Mbappé, who was unable to finish the game. Mbappé was taken off with a quarter of an hour to go and conclusions may already be drawn about his injury. The Frenchman gave everyone a scare in the 75th minute of Wednesday’s game when he lay on the ground in agony with his right ankle.
Although the extent of the sprain is still unknown, and with only ten days to go before the Cup final, everything seems to indicate that it is a minor sprain, but he will be doubtful until the last minute to face Barça for what is now practically the only title the team can win this season. Further tests will be carried out on Friday.
We will have to wait for the medical tests to officially know the real extent of the injury. It should be remembered that the Frenchman was not going to play in next Sunday’s La Liga match against Athletic at the Bernabéu due to the one-match ban imposed by the RFEF Disciplinary Committee for his violent tackle on Alavés player Antonio Blanco last Sunday at Mendizorroza.
He missed out on a magical night
Kylian Mbappé had the opportunity to experience a magical night at the Santiago Bernabéu for the first time and wanted to be one of the stars of the show. The French kid who dreamed of playing for Real Madrid on big Champions League nights had the chance to fulfill one of his many dreams in white, and he was more motivated than ever to show that he has come to the club to make history.
But those big plans remained just that, plans. There was no magical night, no comeback, and Mbappé was not the star of the show, beyond his injury and having to leave the Santiago Bernabéu on crutches after receiving medical attention.