Mbappé Left Out of Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey Clash Due to Dental Issue
Real Madrid has left Kylian Mbappé out of their squad for the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg against Real Sociedad, with reports indicating the French star is dealing with a dental problem.
Despite missing training on Tuesday, coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that Mbappé will still travel with the team to San Sebastián. The forward has been instrumental for Madrid this season, racking up an impressive 28 goals across all competitions.
In addition to Mbappé, midfielder Fede Valverde and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois have also been sidelined due to minor fitness concerns. However, the squad received a boost with the return of Jude Bellingham, who is available again after serving a suspension that kept him out of Sunday’s league victory over Girona.
Meanwhile, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid delivered a thrilling contest in the other semi-final, battling to a dramatic 4-4 draw in the first leg.
Messi Leads Inter Miami to CONCACAF Champions Cup Victory
On the other side of the Atlantic, Lionel Messi once again proved his class, guiding Inter Miami to a commanding 3-1 win over Sporting Kansas City in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. The result sealed a 4-1 aggregate victory, securing Miami’s place in the tournament’s last 16.
Messi, who scored the winner in the first leg, wasted no time making his mark in the return fixture. Just 19 minutes into the match, he latched onto a pinpoint pass from Luis Suárez and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
Sporting Kansas City thought they had pulled one back when Dejan Joveljic found the net, but the goal was ruled offside. Miami capitalized on the momentum, doubling their lead in stoppage time before halftime. Messi set up Jordi Alba with a brilliant through ball, and Alba’s low cross found Tadeo Allende, who made no mistake from close range.
The home team extended their advantage early in the second half when a defensive error gifted Suárez the perfect opportunity to score. His clinical finish sealed a dominant performance for Miami, leaving Kansas City with no way back.
