Could Real Madrid's over-reliance on Kylian Mbappé be their undoing? On Monday night, with the Frenchman not in attendance due to injury, los Blancos were beaten 1-0 by Getafe at the Bernabéu. Álvaro Arbeloa's team also lost 2-1 against Osasuna at El Sadar the previous weekend, meaning los Merengues have suffered back-to-back La Liga defeats for the first time since the final two fixtures of the 2018/19 campaign, defeated by Real Sociedad and Betis when the title race was already over.
This shock loss at the hands of José Bordalás' side perhaps should not have been too surprising, given Real Madrid's underwhelming record without Mbappé this season.
Real Madrid's results without Kylian Mbappé 2025/26
- 2 March. Real Madrid 0-1 Getafe. La Liga.
- 25 February. Real Madrid 2-1 Benfica. Champions League knockout stages.
- 14 February. Real Madrid 4-1 Real Sociedad. La Liga.
- 14 January. Albacete 3-2 Real Madrid. Copa del Rey last 16.
- 8 January. Real Madrid 2-1 Atlético Madrid. Supercopa de España semi-final.
- 4 January. Real Madrid 5-1 Real Betis. La Liga.
- 10 December. Real Madrid 1-2 Manchester City. Champions League league phase.
While Real Madrid did manage to demolished both Real Betis and Real Sociedad in Mbappé's absence, they are clearly worse off without him. Three of their nine defeats have come without the Frenchman, also beaten in the Supercopa de España Final by Barcelona when he was only fit enough to feature for 13 minutes in Jeddah.
So, when will the best attacker in the world be back? Well, on Monday it was confirmed that he has suffered a sprain in his left knee, having been struggling with an injury to the external ligament throughout 2026. He has traveled to Paris to undergoing further tests and get a second opinion, but will not have surgery at this point, reluctant to do so with France's World Cup opener against Senegal in East Rutherford a mere 105 days away.
For Real Madrid, after not picking up any major silverware last season, could they do so in back-to-back campaigns for the first time since 2010? This month, they'll be reunited with Manchester City in the Champions League last 16, having already been beaten by the Sky Blues in Mbappé's absence in December. If the 27 year old is not fit and firing for that tie, which seems unlikely with the first leg next Wednesday, Pep Guardiola's team have to be overwhelming favourites to advance.
Back in La Liga, having been top, those consecutive loses to Osasuna and Getafe leaves Arbeloa's team four points adrift leaders Barcelona. Los Blancos are back in action as soon as Friday night, facing Celta Vigo at Balaídos, before hosting Elche and then the small matter of a Madrid derby against Atlético at the Bernabéu. Thus, by the time the March international break rolls around, los Blancos could be out of the Champions League and an unassailable number of points behind Barça in the title race, thereby likely to rush Mbappé back, only making his knee issue even worse.