Kylian Mbappé’s stellar season in La Liga took an unexpected turn on Sunday after the Real Madrid forward was shown a straight red card during a tense away fixture against Alaves.
The French international, who joined Madrid in the summer of 2024, was dismissed in the 38th minute for a dangerous tackle on Alaves midfielder Antonio Blanco, a former Madrid academy graduate.
The incident occurred with Madrid holding a slim 1-0 lead thanks to a first-half strike from Eduardo Camavinga. But Mbappé’s high-footed challenge on Blanco stunned fans and teammates alike, as it marked his first sending-off since arriving in Spain’s top flight.
The referee wasted no time reaching for his pocket after reviewing the severity of the challenge, leaving Real Madrid to play the remainder of the match with 10 men. While Mbappé is Madrid’s top scorer this season with 22 goals in La Liga, his absence could prove costly in the club’s bid to chase down Barcelona at the top of the table.
Barcelona had widened the gap on Saturday after a narrow 1-0 win over Leganés, placing them seven points clear before Madrid’s encounter at Alaves. The red card adds to the pressure mounting on Madrid as they fight to keep their title hopes alive.
Mbappé, brought in as the centerpiece of Madrid’s future, has dazzled fans with his pace and finishing, but Sunday’s incident highlighted the risks of emotional overdrive in high-stakes games. The tackle drew criticism from pundits, while Blanco appeared to escape serious injury, much to the relief of both teams.
Real Madrid will now await further disciplinary action from the Spanish Football Federation, which could sideline Mbappé for multiple matches. As La Liga 2025 enters its final stretch, the red card to the Real Madrid star could have serious implications for the title race and Madrid’s attacking rhythm
