The first half was full of incident: Raul Asencio thought he had scored for Alaves, only for VAR to disallow the goal, and Eduardo Camavinga found the net for the first time in the league since the 2021/22 season. ..Continue Reading
But the main talking point came when Kylian Mbappe received a straight red card for a reckless tackle on Antonio Blanco, a former Real Madrid youth player.
Frustrated by a string of fouls that went unpunished, Mbappe flew into a dangerous challenge, dragging his studs down Blanco’s shin. Initially shown a yellow by referee Cesar Soto Grado, the card was upgraded to red after a VAR review.
Fortunately for Madrid, Mbappe’s early dismissal didn’t cost them the match, especially as Alaves also ended the game with ten men. However, the 26-year-old will now miss time as he serves a suspension.
The severity of Mbappe’s ban is still up in the air, but early reports suggest it could be surprisingly lenient.
Spanish outlet COPE reports he’s likely to receive only a one-match suspension, as the referee determined he was genuinely attempting to play the ball.
Under La Liga regulations, red cards issued for “excessive force” typically result in bans ranging from one to three games.
These suspensions apply strictly to La Liga matches and don’t affect participation in the Copa del Rey or Champions League—unwelcome news for Arsenal fans ahead of their crucial European clash with Madrid.
However, if league officials later classify Mbappe’s tackle as “violent conduct,” his punishment could increase to a suspension of four to twelve matches.
Should that happen, he would also miss the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona.
If COPE’s report holds true and he’s given just a one-game ban, Mbappe would only miss Madrid’s upcoming league fixture against Athletic Club.
With Real pushing to overtake league leaders Barcelona, losing their star striker—even briefly—could be a significant setback against the fourth-placed side.
No matter the length of the domestic ban, Mbappe remains eligible to feature in Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal, as well as future matches in the tournament if Madrid advance.
A three-game ban would see him sidelined for league games against Athletic Club, Getafe, and Celta Vigo, while a four-game punishment would rule him out of the Copa del Rey final on April 26.
