Carlo Ancelotti has said that Kylian Mbappé‘s injury-enforced absence from the Madrid derby will not cause a major change in how his Real Madrid team approaches Sunday’s game.
Mbappé — who has already scored five league goals this season — is expected to be out for around three weeks with a thigh injury picked up during Madrid’s 3-2 LaLiga win over Alavés on Tuesday.
Madrid go into the clash with Atlético at the Metropolitano on a 39-game unbeaten run in LaLiga, with their last defeat coming in September 2023, in the same fixture.
“Obviously without Mbappé, it changes a bit, but not a lot,” Ancelotti told a news conference on Saturday. “We’re used to playing without him. Last year he wasn’t here. It’s a shame that he’s not here for this game, but I think we can deal with his absence well.”
Ancelotti said that Mbappé’s absence would not necessarily mean a switch from a 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2 formation.
“I don’t focus much on the system,” he said. “A 4-3-3 can change. You can have a 4-4-2 with the same players. Adding an extra midfielder doesn’t mean 4-4-2 , or an extra forward 4-3-3. We can play with three forwards in a 4-4-2, with Vinícius [Júnior] or Rodrygo on the right wing. I don’t focus on that, I focus on the team playing for each other, with commitment.”
Atlético head coach Diego Simeone said Real’s most significant absentee would be midfielder Toni Kroos, who retired this summer.
“Our opponent has lost a really important player in midfield, Kroos, necessary in any team to give balance,” Simeone said. “I think they’re looking for that player who can give them calm, to make the most of all the offensive power they have.
“I don’t think it will be very different from recent games we’ve played against them. We’ve brought in new players, but as for them, whether it’s [Luka] Modric, Endrick or [Arda] Güler, Madrid’s plan won’t change … Knowing [Ancelotti], I think he’ll look to play [Jude] Bellingham as a number 10, or with Modric behind Rodyrgo and Vinícius.”
Ancelotti confirmed that midfielder Eduardo Camavinga had recovered from injury and was available, but would not say if he’d start Sunday’s match.
Last year’s game at the Metropolitano saw Atlético race into a two-goal lead inside the first 20 minutes, and go on to win 3-1.
“Yes, 100%, we have to avoid the mistakes of last year,” Ancelotti said. “We’ve improved defensively. We’ve learnt from last year.”
Madrid go into the derby two points ahead of Atlético, with both teams unbeaten this season.
