Real Madrid Expect Mbappe, Konate and Valverde Fit for El Clasico

Big Boost for El Clasico

Real Madrid are confident that Kylian Mbappe, Ibrahima Konate and Federico Valverde will be ready to face Barcelona on Oct. 25. All three key players picked up injuries recently, but the club expects them to be cleared in time for the trip to Camp Nou.

Midfielder Valverde looks set to make the quickest return of the trio. He hurt his ankle during the derby loss against Atletico Madrid before the international break. The club expects him to play when LaLiga returns on Oct. 10, when Madrid host Villarreal.

Assessing Mbappe and Konate

The timelines for Mbappe and Konate remain a bit more cautious. Mbappe suffered a hyperextension of the posterior capsule of his left knee on Sept. 25. He sustained the injury while scoring the winner in France's 1-0 victory over Turkiye in the UEFA Nations League. His return will depend on how he feels and how much pain he experiences.

Konate is dealing with a knee ligament problem picked up in training last week. The issue is not considered serious, but Madrid are weighing up whether to play him against Villarreal or take a more conservative route with his recovery.

Busy Calendar Before Camp Nou

Madrid face a packed run of games leading up to the clash with their title rivals. After hosting Villarreal on Oct. 10, the team travels to Roma in the Champions League on Oct. 14. They then host Sevilla on Oct. 18 and play RB Leipzig on Oct. 21, right before heading to Barcelona the following weekend.

Other Squad Injury Updates

There is mixed news across the rest of the squad. Eder Militao returned to training this week following surgery in April, which caused him to miss the World Cup. He could be back by the end of October, though it is doubtful that he will have the match fitness required for El Clasico.

Meanwhile, Ferland Mendy and Rodrygo remain long term absentees. Both players will not be available for selection.