Kylian Mbappe sidelined for Real Madrid Champions League tie versus Benfica

Kylian Mbappe, the forward for Real Madrid, is expected to absent himself from the second leg of the Champions League qualifier facing Benfica on Wednesday owing to a knee issue, as AFP was informed on Tuesday by an individual near the squad.

This French sensation, who tops the scoring for Madrid in the current campaign, has endured knee discomfort across recent weeks, yet sources indicate he will skip action at the Santiago Bernabeu, aligning with details from the French publication L'Equipe.

Real Madrid maintain a 1-0 advantage from the initial encounter in Lisbon the previous week, during which the fixture faced interruptions from purported racial insults targeted at Vinicius Junior, the winger for Los Blancos.

On Tuesday morning, Mbappe's manager Alvaro Arbeloa mentioned that the athlete was "ready to participate" in the return match and praised his dedication to performing despite the discomfort, although a subsequent choice ensured the striker would not join the lineup versus Benfica.

Mbappe dominates the Champions League goal scorers list with 13 strikes this term, even with a ligament concern on the external part of his left knee that has plagued him since prior to the holiday period.

In Real's 2-1 La Liga setback against Osasuna on Saturday, the attacker displayed reduced mobility compared to his standard pace.