“He’s Not Ruled Out Yet” – Alonso Sweats on Mbappé as Madrid Injury Crisis Deepens

Real Madrid head into Sunday’s LaLiga trip to Alavés with uncertainty hanging over Kylian Mbappé and a squad stretched to breaking point. Xabi Alonso confirmed the French forward is still a doubt, a situation that could leave Madrid missing up to 12 players at a pivotal moment in their season.

Mbappé returned to training on Friday, but his availability remains unclear after a knee issue and a broken finger sidelined him in midweek. With Madrid already under pressure in the title race, every decision now feels amplified.

Mbappé’s fitness gamble

The 25 year old missed Wednesday’s Champions League defeat to Manchester City after feeling discomfort in his knee during last weekend’s win over Celta Vigo at the Santiago Bernabéu. That issue, combined with a fractured finger, has limited his involvement in recent sessions.

Sources told ESPN that Mbappé’s presence against Alavés is unlikely, although he has not been formally ruled out. He has not trained fully with the group in recent days, but there is still a chance he could travel to Vitoria if his knee responds positively before matchday.

For Alonso, it is a familiar dilemma. Risk one of the club’s biggest assets at less than full fitness, or protect him and accept a weakened attack in a game Madrid cannot afford to lose.

A squad held together by tape

Mbappé is only part of a wider problem. Madrid’s injury list reads like a starting XI. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy and Éder Militão are all sidelined, while Álvaro Carreras and Fran García are suspended.

The result is a remarkable situation: Alonso will travel to Vitoria without a single recognized first-team full-back available. Homegrown teenager Víctor Valdepeñas is expected to be called up, underlining how thin the squad has become.

The concerns do not end there. Eduardo Camavinga, Fede Valverde, Antonio Rüdiger and Dean Huijsen are all doubtful, meaning Madrid could be forced into last-minute reshuffles across midfield and defense.

For a club built on depth and dominance, this is unfamiliar territory.

Why this moment matters

Sunday’s fixture comes at a sensitive time for Alonso. Madrid sits four points behind Barcelona in the LaLiga table and has managed just one win in their last five league matches. Momentum has stalled, confidence is fragile, and patience around the manager is being tested.

This is not just about one game against Alavés. It is about whether Madrid can stabilize their season before it drifts further off course.

Alavés, meanwhile, have little to lose. Facing a wounded giant with a patched-up squad, they will see opportunity rather than intimidation.

Tactical and psychological pressure

Without full-backs, Alonso may be forced into improvised solutions. Center backs pushed wide, midfielders asked to cover unfamiliar zones, or a more conservative shape designed simply to survive. None of those options are ideal, especially away from home.

If Mbappé does miss out, the attacking burden will fall on players already navigating inconsistent form. Madrid’s recent struggles in front of goal make his absence even more significant.

There is also the mental side. Players are aware of the table, aware of the noise, and aware that another slip could widen the gap to Barcelona. In that context, injuries do not just weaken the lineup; they heighten anxiety.

What comes next

If Mbappé travels and plays, it will be a calculated risk taken out of necessity. If he does not, Alonso will be judged on how he adapts and whether Madrid can still find a way to win.

Either way, Sunday feels like a hinge point. A victory could steady the ship and buy the coach breathing space. Another setback would deepen scrutiny and raise uncomfortable questions about how long Madrid can keep absorbing blows.

With fitness doubts, suspensions, and a title race tightening, Madrid arrive in Vitoria with more uncertainty than confidence. The next 90 minutes may not define their season, but they will certainly shape what happens next.