article by Suvankar Roy
This isn’t just a match. It is a battle of pride. It is a clash of history. It is… El Clásico.
And ahead of this titanous encounter, the footballing world is fixated on a single question:
Will Kylian Mbappé play?
The French superstar was nowhere to be seen during the Super Cup semifinal against Atlético Madrid. Nursing a knee injury, Mbappé remained outside the capital, leading many to assume he would certainly miss the Clásico.
But on Friday, the narrative shifted instantly.
A flight touched down in Jeddah.
And stepping off that plane was none other than Kylian Mbappé.
In an instant, the atmosphere within the Real Madrid camp transformed. Hope flickered back to life; tension reached a fever pitch. In the stands, the whispers grew:
“He’s here… but will he actually play?”
Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso met the press with a face of quiet tension and eyes full of calculation.
He was blunt about the situation: “We can take a risk… but we aren’t kamikazes. It will be a controlled risk.”
On one hand, it is an El Clásico final.
On the other, his greatest weapon is carrying a wounded body.
Alonso knows this decision could dictate not just the match, but the trajectory of the entire season.
“Playing him against Atlético wouldn’t have been right. We didn’t rush. After today’s training session, we will decide—whether he starts or comes off the bench.”
With 29 goals this season, Mbappé is Real’s leading scorer and the spearhead of the Madrid attack. Sidelining a player of his caliber feels like self-sabotage.
But a wrong move now could mean a devastating long-term loss.
Winning this trophy would mark Xabi Alonso’s first silverware as Real Madrid manager. The man who was reportedly on the brink of losing his job at the end of 2025 is now riding a five-match winning streak.
“We are changing,” Alonso remarked. “In our play, our mentality, and the soul of this team. Matches like this can write the destiny of an entire season.”
El Clásico is more than a test for the players—it is a baptism by fire for the coaches.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick was quick to praise Mbappé, yet his eyes betrayed a spark of immense self-assurance.
“Right now, Mbappé is the best striker in the world,” Flick admitted.
However, he was swift to remind everyone of the current reality: Barcelona dominated Real four times last season, asserting their authority across the Super Cup, La Liga, and the Copa del Rey.
“We respect Mbappé, but we don’t play against just one player. We play against Real Madrid.”
Barça knows—with or without Mbappé—a war is coming.
The World Waits
Now, we wait for that singular moment.
Will Mbappé be there when they walk through the tunnel?
Will his name appear on the starting XI?
Or will he emerge from the bench to rewrite the script of the match?
One name.
One decision.
One match.
And millions of heartbeats skipping a beat.
El Clásico is coming… and with it comes drama, fire, and history.