Real Madrid face Spanish Super Cup semifinal without Mbappé but numbers inspire confidence

Real Madrid face the battle for the first title of 2026, the Spanish Super Cup, without their main goal-scoring reference in the semifinal against Atlético de Madrid, due to a knee sprain that has sidelined Kylian Mbappé. He had already missed a Madrid derby that ended in a draw, and in his absences—11 in 94 matches—the white-clad side have managed with just one defeat and a 63.6% win rate.

Despite Mbappé’s leadership, having scored 29 goals in 24 appearances, the Real Madrid record without Mbappé is positive heading into the Spanish Super Cup. Of the 11 matches played over the 16 months since his arrival, the team won seven, drew three, and lost only once, this season against Manchester City in the Champions League at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Atlético de Madrid will be the first opponent against whom Mbappé will miss two matches as a Real Madrid player. He was already absent for the first derby he could have played in white, in September 2024 at the Metropolitano, which ended 1–1 in LaLiga under Carlo Ancelotti, with Rodrygo and Vinícius Júnior leading the attack.

It wasn’t until December, with Real Madrid focused on the Intercontinental Cup final, Mbappé rested due to physical discomfort and Vinícius on the bench, that the team faced another match without the Frenchman. Again in LaLiga, again a draw, 3–3 vs Rayo Vallecano, with Brahim Díaz and Rodrygo as attacking leaders.

The attacking solution consistently trusted by Xabi Alonso when Mbappé has been unavailable—academy product Gonzalo García—emerged in the Copa del Rey, scoring a 93rd-minute winner against Leganés to avoid extra time.

Since then, Real Madrid without Mbappé have recorded wins against Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey, and Athletic Club and Getafe in LaLiga, and later at the Club World Cup, where a gastroenteritis ruled the French star out and Gonzalo García was trusted as the starting striker.

Mbappé missed three matches of the tournament before returning below full strength in the elimination against Paris Saint-Germain. Prior to that, Real Madrid drew with Al Hilal and defeated Pachuca and Salzburg.

Without their top scorer, Real Madrid netted 23 goals—an average of 2.09 per match—and conceded 11, just one per game. Their only defeat came against Manchester City, at the lowest point of Xabi Alonso’s tenure.

Gonzalo García’s rise and lineup continuity

It will be Gonzalo García’s first Spanish Super Cup, arriving in top form after finishing the Club World Cup as top scorer. He earned his starting spot with a hat-trick at the Santiago Bernabéu against Betis (5–1), the largest Real Madrid win without Mbappé.

Mbappé had an impact against Atlético de Madrid when available. In the four derbies he played, he scored in two LaLiga matches, though without a win, including the painful 5–2 defeat under Xabi Alonso.

The knee sprain suffered on December 30 during an open training session sidelines Mbappé at a crucial moment, one that could define the season—either lifting the first trophy of 2026 or suffering another big-match setback.

Driven by a historic goal—matching Cristiano Ronaldo’s record for goals in a calendar year—Mbappé pushed to play despite discomfort, even in matches against Talavera and Sevilla.

Real Madrid matches without Mbappé:

Atlético de Madrid 1–1 Real Madrid | LaLiga

Rayo Vallecano 3–3 Real Madrid | LaLiga

Leganés 2–3 Real Madrid | Copa del Rey

Real Sociedad 0–1 Real Madrid | Copa del Rey

Real Madrid 1–0 Athletic Club | LaLiga

Getafe 0–1 Real Madrid | LaLiga

Real Madrid 1–1 Al Hilal | Club World Cup

Real Madrid 3–1 Pachuca | Club World Cup

Salzburg 0–3 Real Madrid | Club World Cup

Real Madrid 1–2 Manchester City | Champions League

Real Madrid 5–1 Betis | LaLiga