Davide Ancelotti acknowledges that Kylian Mbappe’s dangerous tackle was undoubtedly a ‘clear red card.’ Will the Real Madrid striker be absent for the match against Arsenal?

Kylian Mbappe was given his marching orders in Real Madrid’s La Liga clash against Alaves on Sunday, following a horror challenge that prompted the referee to brandish a straight red card to the Frenchman. Assistant coach Davide Ancelotti admitted the incident was a “clear red.”

Eduardo Camavinga scored the only goal of the match, redeeming himself after being sent off in Real’s Champions League quarter-final first leg loss to Arsenal. However, just four minutes after Camavinga’s stunning strike, Mbappe was shown a red card of his own for a terrible foul on Antonio Blanco.

The Madrid forward’s right boot crashed into Blanco’s leg with his studs up, sending the Alaves midfielder hurtling to the ground. A VAR check left referee Cesar Soto Grado with little choice but to send Mbappe off.

Filling in for his father Carlo, who was serving a touchline ban, Davide Ancelotti commented, “I haven’t spoken to him since. Kylian isn’t a violent kid – he’s a kid who apologised and understands what he did. It was a clear red card, and he paid the consequences.”

He added, “The many small offenses he’s been subjected to have made him react this way, which isn’t right. I’m not justifying him, but that’s what happened.”

The suspension means bad news for Arsenal fans, as Mbappe’s ban will only apply to Madrid’s domestic competitions. Consequently, the attacker will still be available to face The Gunners in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday.

However, Carlo Ancelotti will be without Camavinga, who received a second yellow card and subsequent red for kicking the ball away in the dying moments of the 3-0 defeat at the Emirates.

Mbappe could miss Madrid’s Copa del Rey final against El Clasico rivals Barcelona on April 26. In La Liga, a red card typically carries a two-match ban, ruling him out of upcoming fixtures against Athletic Bilbao and Getafe. If the foul is later deemed a serious violation, the suspension could be increased, potentially sidelining him for the final against their great rivals later this month.

Madrid’s victory over Alaves has cut Barcelona’s lead at the top of the table to four points, with just seven games remaining in the league. “The win gives us confidence,” Ancelotti said. “We knew it wouldn’t be easy. What happened in the match made things a little more difficult for us, but winning gives us confidence for what we want to see happen next Wednesday.”

April could prove to be a defining month for Los Blancos, as they face the daunting task of overturning Arsenal’s 3-0 aggregate lead in Europe, alongside that crucial cup meeting with Barcelona. “Both are difficult, and we’re going to try both. We know we have to earn it, that it’s not enough to have the quality we have, and that some things have to go well,” Ancelotti concluded. “But everyone is convinced we’re going to try in La Liga and in the Champions League as well.”