Real Madrid have five games left to salvage something from their 2024/25 season.
Los Blancos were dumped out of the UEFA Champions League at the quarterfinal stage by Arsenal and that shock was quickly followed by defeat in the Copa del Rey final to arch foes Barcelona on April 27.
La Blaugrana got the better of Carlo Ancelotti for the third time this season, after a 4-0 La Liga win in Madrid in the first-half of the campaign, and victories in the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup finals.
Ancelotti's future in Madrid looks to be settled with the Italian coach widely tipped to move in June despite his current contract running until 2026.
With five matches left on the league schedule, Ancelotti is looking to overhaul a four-point gap behind current leaders Barcelona, with Hansi Flick's team chasing a potential trophy treble.
Real Madrid's trip to Catalonia on May 11 will likely decide the title - but Ancelotti needs a slip elsewhere from Flick - and the former will be focusing his resources on that all-important game.
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Kylian Mbappe was risked in the Copa del Rey defeat to La Blaugrana, despite not being fully fit due to an ankle injury, and Ancelotti will not take a chance on his top scorer again.
Kylian Mbappe injury latest, return date, El Clasico fitness update
Mbappe was forced off with the injury in Real Madrid's UCL second leg loss to Arsenal on April 16, and he missed the subsequent 1-0 La Liga wins over Athletic Club and Getafe.
He started on the bench against Barcelona at the Estadio La Cartuja, and scored a superb free-kick to level the game at 1-1, but a recurrence of the issue was flagged up amidst the chaos at full-time.
Antonio Rudiger has been hit with a six-game ban for throwing an object at officials in the final aftermath, and will not play again this season, with French duo Ferland Mendy and Eduardo Camavinga now sidelined until June through injury.
As per reports from Marca, Mbappe has not trained fully with the Real Madrid squad since the final, ahead of their weekend La Liga home clash with Celta Vigo on May 4.
Mbappe and Vinicius Junior have both trained alone in the Valdebebas gym and the France captain is unlikely to start again before the Barcelona game to protect him from further injury.
The 26-year-old has enjoyed a strong first season in Madrid, with 34 goals scored, and Ancelotti needs him at full power in Barcelona to keep their title defence within reach.
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