The Mbappe Clasico availability story is still the biggest piece of Real Madrid suspense heading into Sunday night. MARCA’s headline made that clear, and Real Madrid’s own Thursday training update backed up the same basic idea: Kylian Mbappé has moved forward in his recovery, but the final green light is not there yet.
That matters because this is not a normal fixture. Real Madrid’s official schedule confirms that the Clásico against Barcelona will be played on Sunday, May 10, at 9:00 p.m. CEST at Spotify Camp Nou, and Cadena SER described the game as one that could decide LaLiga. In other words, every update around Mbappé now carries extra weight.
Mbappe Clasico availability remains the key question
The most important confirmed detail from the club is straightforward: Mbappé completed part of Thursday’s training session with the group. Real Madrid said the players began in the gym, then moved to rondos, possession work, tactical drills, and finishing exercises, with Mbappé rejoining the team for part of that work. That is clearly progress, especially after a muscle injury, but it is not the same thing as full clearance.
Cadena SER added the next layer to the picture by reporting that further medical imaging in the coming hours would help determine whether Mbappé can be available for Barcelona. The same report said he had already spent the previous two days at Valdebebas doing individual gym work before returning to the grass on Thursday. That combination explains why the feeling around the club is more hopeful than it was earlier in the week, while still leaving the door open to caution.
Real Madrid’s original medical report also explains why the club cannot afford to rush the final decision. On April 27, the club said Mbappé had been diagnosed with an injury to the semitendinosus muscle in his left leg and was awaiting progress. For a player whose game depends so heavily on explosiveness, that is exactly the kind of issue that has to be handled carefully before a match as intense as a Clásico.
Why this update matters so much for Real Madrid
The obvious reason is quality. If Mbappé is available, Real Madrid instantly look more dangerous in transition, more threatening in behind, and more capable of changing the match with one action. Barcelona would have to prepare for his speed and movement even if he were not ready for a full 90 minutes. That part is analysis, but it follows directly from the nature of the player and from the club’s effort to get him back involved with the group before Sunday.
There is also a psychological side to the story. For most of the buildup, the conversation has centered on whether Madrid would have to walk into their biggest domestic match without their most explosive attacker. Thursday’s session did not end that debate, but it changed the tone. The story is no longer about a player fully on the outside of training. It is now about a star who is pushing toward availability, and that alone changes how the buildup feels for both teams.
Cadena SER also underlined the league context, reporting that Madrid need to beat Barcelona to keep their title hopes alive, even if the scenario still depends on dropped points from Barça in the remaining weeks. That makes the Mbappe Clasico availability question even more important. This is not simply about whether a star can return for a glamour game. It is about whether Real Madrid can attack a decisive night with their biggest weapon in the squad.
What Thursday’s training really tells us
The temptation is to treat partial team training as a near-certainty that Mbappé will play. That would go too far. Real Madrid’s official wording was careful, and careful wording usually matters with muscular injuries. “Part of the session with the group” is encouraging, but it still leaves open several possibilities: he could start, make the bench, be limited to controlled minutes, or still be left out if the final response is not convincing enough.
Still, the positive signs are real. Cadena SER reported that the club hopes to increase his physical load over the next few days, and his return to the grass after individual indoor work suggests the recovery has entered a more advanced phase. That does not guarantee a spot in the XI, but it does make the story far more competitive than it looked when he was still fully separated from group work.
That is why MARCA’s framing works so well for the moment. The uncertainty itself is the story. Mbappé is neither fully ruled out nor fully confirmed, and that middle ground is exactly what keeps Madrid supporters watching every update so closely before Sunday.
What this means for Real Madrid
From a football perspective, Real Madrid now face two parallel decisions. The first is medical: can Mbappé safely be included? The second is tactical: if he can, how much can he really give? Those are not the same question. A player can be fit enough to help without being fit enough to carry the full load of a Clásico from the opening whistle.
That is also what makes this story bigger than one injury bulletin. Mbappé’s status connects directly to the rest of the attack, to how Madrid might structure transitions, and to how much responsibility falls on players like Vinícius and Bellingham if the Frenchman is only ready for partial involvement. As the final days of preparation continue, that wider tactical discussion becomes one of the most interesting angles around the squad.
What happens next
The next step is simple: Real Madrid need the final medical decision. Until that arrives, the Mbappe Clasico availability question stays open. Thursday brought real encouragement, but it did not end the suspense.
For Madridistas, that makes this one of the defining stories of the week. If Mbappé is cleared, the entire feel of the Clásico changes. If he is not, then Madrid will head into the biggest game left on their calendar without their headline attacker. Either way, the answer will shape not just the lineup, but the whole conversation around Real Madrid’s title hopes, attacking plan, and who has to step up most on Sunday night.
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