Real Madrid’s injury crisis deepens as Kylian Mbappé has been ruled out of the club’s upcoming Copa del Rey quarter-final against Leganés, with head coach Carlo Ancelotti confirming that the French star is struggling with a bruised calf. This latest setback adds to Madrid’s growing list of unavailable players, creating a selection headache ahead of crucial domestic and European fixtures. The controversy surrounding Mbappé’s injury stems from Real Madrid’s recent 1-0 La Liga defeat to Espanyol, where defender Carlos Romero’s reckless challenge on the forward went unpunished. Instead of being sent off, Romero stayed on the pitch and later scored the winning goal, further fueling Madrid’s frustration with Spanish refereeing standards. In response, Real Madrid has taken an unprecedented step by filing an official complaint to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), condemning the league’s officiating as ‘rigged’ and ‘completely discredited.’ The club’s statement, released on Monday, argues that inconsistent and negligent refereeing puts players at risk and directly affects competition integrity.
Carlo Ancelotti did not hold back in his latest press conference, doubling down on his criticism of Spanish referees and demanding accountability. He insisted that the decision not to send off Romero was incomprehensible and reiterated that player welfare should be the priority. Ancelotti pointed out that Real Madrid’s official complaint was necessary to seek answers about why no action was taken. The controversy has reignited debates about officiating integrity in La Liga, with Madrid’s camp arguing that the refereeing bias is evident and undermines fair competition. Critics, however, have dismissed the club’s claims as an excuse to deflect from their own performance issues.
Adding to Madrid’s woes, Jude Bellingham has also been ruled out of the Leganés match with a knock, while veteran defender David Alaba faces another spell on the sidelines after suffering a thigh injury. The Austrian, who recently returned from a year-long knee injury, will be unavailable for at least three weeks. With Antonio Rüdiger also a major doubt, Madrid’s defensive options are running thin, leaving Raúl Asencio and midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni as the club’s emergency center-back pairing for upcoming matches. Eder Militão and Dani Carvajal remain long-term absentees, adding further strain to the squad. Ancelotti admitted that the team is facing a defensive crisis but insisted they would fight through it. He acknowledged that injuries were not an ideal situation but emphasized the need to push forward with available players.
With injuries piling up, Real Madrid faces a daunting schedule, including a high-stakes La Liga derby against Atlético Madrid and a crucial Champions League playoff tie against Manchester City. Los Blancos will travel to Manchester on February 11, before hosting the second leg on February 19. With key defenders missing, Madrid’s ability to contain City’s attack could be severely compromised, raising doubts about their chances of advancing in the competition. Madrid’s injury struggles and growing dissatisfaction with refereeing decisions are shaping up to be defining factors in their season. With Mbappé, Bellingham, Alaba, Rüdiger, and other key players sidelined, the squad’s depth and resilience will be tested like never before. If refereeing controversies continue and injuries persist, Madrid could face setbacks in multiple competitions, putting their La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Champions League ambitions at risk. However, if Ancelotti’s side can rally through this adversity, they might emerge stronger and more determined to reclaim dominance on all fronts.
The world will be watching as Madrid navigates this turbulent period. Will the Spanish football authorities respond to Madrid’s complaints, or will the refereeing crisis continue to cast a shadow over the league? Can Ancelotti’s squad survive their injury nightmare and still challenge for silverware? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: Real Madrid’s season just got a lot more complicated.
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