A thorn in Mbappé’s side… The rematch exposes Real Madrid’s crisis

Kylian Mbappé goes into the match clearly frustrated, having failed to score for Real Madrid for a full two months. Ironically, his next opponent, Bayern Munich, is the very same team that denied him the Champions League title when he was a Paris Saint-Germain player, according to the Spanish newspaper ‘AS’.

Aside from the impressive statistics he has achieved this season, scoring 38 goals, the current reality raises serious questions: Mbappé is no longer the attacking solution everyone expected. His last goal dates back to 8 February against Valencia in La Liga, and since then, his impact has declined significantly.

What is most striking is that Real Madrid’s best spell under Arbeloa came in the French star’s absence, with the team securing five consecutive wins before losing to Real Mallorca, raising serious questions about his compatibility with the current system.

During Mbappé’s absence, the Royal side managed to reshape its playing identity, relying on numerical strength in midfield—particularly following the emergence of Federico Valverde and the influence of Ibrahim Díaz—alongside more balanced tactical roles.

The plan seemed clear: Mbappé’s return to the starting line-up at the expense of Díaz, whilst maintaining the team’s cohesion, which had improved in his absence. Indeed, there were positive signs during the first half against Mallorca, before things became more complicated later on.

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Against Mallorca, Mbappé wasn’t entirely poor; in fact, he had a good first half, moving energetically and taking six shots, three of which were on target. However, goalkeeper Leo Roman saved all his attempts, leaving him still goalless.

Although his place in the starting line-up remains secure, the need to regain his scoring touch has become urgent, particularly given the team’s decline in overall and defensive performance when he plays.

The crisis is further complicated when Mbappé shares the front line with Vinícius Júnior, as the pair put in a lacklustre performance against Mallorca, posing no real threat. A third element can be added to this puzzle: Jude Bellingham, who has recently returned from injury.

Despite his return, Arbeloa has made it clear that Bellingham will not be ready to start against Bayern, meaning the attacking burden will fall heavily on the duo of Vinícius and Mbappé.

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The clash with Bayern Munich holds special significance for Mbappé, as it represents an opportunity for revenge against an opponent who has repeatedly dealt him the bitter blow of elimination, both in the 2020 final and in other encounters whilst wearing the Paris Saint-Germain shirt.

Nevertheless, the French star also knows how to find the net against the German giants, having scored three goals in seven previous encounters.

Real Madrid go into this clash facing a real test: can they maintain their team balance with their three stars in the line-up? And will Mbappé rediscover his scoring touch at the crucial moment?

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