Kylian Mbappe Red Card Offense: What It Means for Real Madrid Ahead of Champions League Clash Against Arsenal

The French Star Will Miss Key Domestic Matches — but Will He Be Eligible To Face Arsenal in the UCL Second Leg?

Kylian Mbappe’s first red card with Real Madrid has stirred a lot of controversy. With the offense being pretty serious, he may see more than a one-match ban. However, Arsenal fans who are hoping to see the French superstar sidelined in the Champions League will be disappointed.

The Real Madrid forward was shown a straight red card in Real Madrid’s narrow 1-0 La Liga win against Alaves. It came after a reckless challenge on Antonio Blanco just minutes after Eduardo Camavinga had scored the winner. Initially he was booked for the incident.

However, referee Cesar Soto upgraded the decision to a red card after VAR review confirmed Mbappe’s studs-up lunge missed the ball and clattered into Blanco’s standing leg. Thankfully, the boot didn’t connect with Blanco’s legs in a worse way. It could’ve ended up in a career-ending injury for the Alaves midfielder.

Kylian Mbappe is sent off after this terrible tackle, why are we arguing?
pic.twitter.com/BTXymGz6lW
— MadridMuse (@MadridMuse) April 13, 2025

Blanco managed to continue, but the challenge left fans and pundits alike outraged. It hasn’t been confirmed how many games he will miss because of hus suspension. However, the bans will only be limited to domestic games. It will not extend beyond La Liga or Copa del Rey.

UEFA regulations separate disciplinary actions between domestic leagues and European tournaments. That means the 26-year-old will be free to play in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg against Arsenal on April 16.

Also read: ‘It’s Disgraceful’ – Football Pundit Craig Burley Reacts To Mbappe’s Tackle On Antonio Blanco

Matches Mbappe Will Miss

According to el Mundo, referee Soto Grado described the foul as an attempt to play the ball with excessive force. This typically carries a suspension of one to three La Liga matches. Hence, Mbappe could miss these upcoming games –

La Liga match vs Athletic Bilbao (April 20)
La Liga match vs Getafe (April 23)
Copa del Rey final against Barcelona (April 26)

Also Read: Why the Real Madrid vs. Alaves Game Will Be Remembered for the Wrong Reasons?

However, whether he will miss the El Clasico will depend on the length of the suspension. Real Madrid’s assistant coach Davide Ancelotti defended the forward post-match, saying, “He apologised, he’s not a violent guy. He understands what he did.”

The absence of Mbappe in domestic action could impact Madrid’s title race. Los Blancos are chasing Barcelona at the top of the La Liga table. However, his availability against Arsenal provides a much-needed boost as the Spanish giants are determined to overturn a 3-0 deficit at the Bernabeu.

Alaves

Arsenal

Barcelona

Champions League

Copa del Rey

Kylian Mbappe

La Liga

Real Madrid

Moumita Dutta

soccer

Football writer at The Playoffs. I’ve been obsessed with the beautiful game since I was a kid.. Eventually, I realized I could combine my passion for writing with my love for football, and I’ve never looked back. My favorite part of the job is everything—when you’re doing what you love, even a late-night deadline feels like extra time in a thrilling cup final. Lastly, Lionel Messi is the GOAT.