Real Madrid's star forward Kylian Mbappe has been ruled out of the second leg of their Champions League playoff against Benfica due to a knee injury. The Spanish club confirmed Mbappe's absence, leaving them without their top scorer.
Mbappe, 27, has netted 38 goals this season, including 13 in the Champions League. Real Madrid's forward options for the match at the Santiago Bernabeu are limited to Vinicius Jr., Gonzalo Garcia, Brahim Diaz, and Franco Mastantuono.
Real Madrid holds a 1-0 aggregate lead from the first leg, a match overshadowed by an alleged racism controversy involving Vinicius Jr. and Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni.
Adding to Real's challenges, midfielder Jude Bellingham is still out with a hamstring injury, and forward Rodrygo is serving a two-match ban.