Real Madrid In Search Of Replacement As Kylian Mbappe To Miss Madrid Derby Due To Injury

French striker and Real Madrid's star signing Kylian Mbappe is going to miss what could have been his first big match for the Madrid club due to a hamstring injury. Mbappe had a slow start to his life in Real Madrid as he failed to score in the first few games but soon enough he was back in buisness as Mbappe has already scored 7 goals in 9 matches. Recently Kylian Mbappe got an injury in his hamstring which has put him out of action for around 3 weeks. This means he is going to miss the Madrid derby against rivals Atletico Madrid. 

Madrid's Hunt For A Replacement 

Kylian Mbappé is expected to miss his first big domestic match since joining Real Madrid when the defending champion plays at Atletico Madrid without its injured striker in La Liga on Sunday.

Mbappé will be sidelined for an unspecified period after he hurt a hamstring , the club said this week. His injury came after the France star scored his seventh goal this season for Madrid in a win over Alavés.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti will have to make a choice to fill the void left by the club’s biggest blockbuster signing since Cristiano Ronaldo over a decade ago. The Italian coach could maintain his three-strong attacking line if he opts to give fellow newcomer Endrick his first start.

The explosive 18-year-old has already impressed with two goals in a handful of appearances as a late substitute that have totaled only 47 minutes. Endrick could line up alongside fellow Brazilians Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo.

Read More: Alisson set to return from injury for Liverpool in Premier League

The other option for Ancelotti would be to go back to the 4-4-2 setup that won the league and Champions League last year, with the exception of the now retired Toni Kroos.

That would mean adding another midfielder from among Luka Modric, Eduardo Camavinga, or Arda Guler to play alongside expected starters Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni.

“I don’t know if (Mbappé) is going to play or not, but they have several good players to turn to,” Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak said. “Whoever plays will play well and want to win as much as we do.” 

Read More: India U-17 face Nepal hurdle in semifinals

Atletico was the only team to beat Madrid last season in its domestic title march. Diego Simeone’s side won its home derby 3-1 and earned a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Hunt For Points For Both Madrid Clubs '

Madrid is in second place in the league standings at four points behind Barcelona, which has a perfect 21 points after winning all seven games since Hansi Flick took over as coach.

Atletico is third, two points behind Madrid after new arrival Julián Álvarez scored a 90th-minute goal to eke out a 1-0 victory at Celta Vigo on Wednesday.

That goal could help Álvarez make the starting 11 alongside the untouchable Antoine Griezmann for the derby. Striker Alexander Sorloth is Simeone’s other top option in attack.

Álvarez and Sorloth were joined by Connor Gallagher and Robin Le Normand as part of a major summer facelift for Atletico.

Barcelona will visit Osasuna on Saturday seeking to match its club record for a perfect start to the season with an eighth consecutive win. 

(With AP Inputs)