La Liga 2025-26: Doubt over Mbappe looms as Real Madrid prepare for Getafe test

Real Madrid will look to bounce back from a shock La Liga loss that cost it the league lead when it hosted Getafe on Monday.

Madrid may not be able to count on star striker Kylian Mbappé, who is sidelined due to a nagging knee injury.

Barcelona have a tough match against Villarreal this weekend, just days before they will try to stage a huge comeback and keep their Copa del Rey title defense alive edc6.

Mbappe, who leads the league with 23 goals, missed Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Benfica that saw his team reach the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League.

But he was on the pitch in Pamplona last weekend as Osasuna stunned Madrid 2-1. That loss allowed Barcelona to take a one point lead over Madrid after 25 rounds.

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Barcelona host third-placed Villarreal on Saturday, three days before they visit Atletico Madrid in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final and reverse a 4-0 defeat in their first meeting.

Vinícius Jnnior has scored five goals in his last four games for Madrid. If Mbappe is not there yet, he will lead the attack against an always stiff Getafe defense.

Atletico Madrid’s new striker, Ademola Lookman, has scored four times since joining from Atalanta in the winter transfer market. Atletico, in fourth place, will host Real Oviedo on Saturday.

Mallorca striker Vedat Muriqi has scored 16 goals this season, second only to Mbappe in La Liga. But his team fired coach Jagoba Arrasate this week after falling into the relegation zone. It hosts Real Sociedad on Saturday.

In addition to Mbappé, Madrid’s injured players also include Jude Bellingham, Eder Militao and Dani Ceballos.

Published on February 26, 2026