The urgent pursuit is hindered by the absence of the 'ace'.
Sports media outlet ESPN reported on the 14th (Korean time) that "Carlo Ancelotti (66 years old) was captured exhaling a puff of smoke mixed with a sigh shortly after Kylian Mbappe (27, Real Madrid) was sent off."
Real Madrid won 1-0 against Deportivo Alaves in the away match of the 31st round of La Liga for the 2024-2025 season held on the 13th at the Camp de Football Mendizorrotza in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. However, the more significant attention was drawn to Kylian Mbappe's sending off rather than the game's content.
In the 34th minute of the first half, Real Madrid took the lead with a goal from Eduardo Camavinga, seemingly lifting the mood. However, four minutes later, a shocking scene occurred. While attempting to press forward, Mbappe made a reckless tackle on Alaves' Antonio Blanco, exposing his studs and striking Blanco's calf. Following a video review (VAR), the referee overturned the initial yellow card and showed a red card.
Mbappe received a direct red card for the first time in about six years since his PSG days in 2019, marking his first departure from the field this season. Immediately after the sending off, he headed quietly to the locker room with a stern expression and later conveyed his apologies to Blanco and his teammates.
Blanco stated, "It hurt a lot, but Mbappe sincerely apologized to me, and there shouldn't be any issues now," while Real's head coach Davide Ancelotti also noted, "It was clearly a situation for a red card, but Mbappe is not a violent player."
The aftermath continued off the field as well. Carlo Ancelotti, known as an avid smoker, was spotted watching the match indoors instead of on the bench, and following Mbappe's sending-off, he was seen smoking an electronic cigarette with a bitter expression, which spread across social media. ESPN published the photo, stating, "Ancelotti's disappointment was evident."
Afterward, Real leveled the numerical balance with the sending off of their opponent Manu Sanchez in the 70th minute, and they maintained the 1-0 lead to secure the victory. However, the effects of Mbappe's sending off are expected to linger for the time being.
According to La Liga regulations, Mbappe will face at least a one-match suspension, and the penalty may increase based on the referee's official report. If the suspension extends to three matches or more, his participation in the cup final against FC Barcelona will also become difficult.
Currently, Real Madrid is closely chasing Barcelona, which has 70 points, with 66 points (20 wins, 6 draws, and 5 losses). However, losing the team's main striker at this point when only seven matches are left in the league is a significant blow.
The fortunate aspect is that league suspensions do not apply to European competitions, allowing Mbappe to participate in the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League. Real is currently engaged in the quarterfinal series against Arsenal and urgently needs a turnaround after suffering a 0-3 loss in the first away match.
As the championship competition intensifies toward the end of the season, Real is grappling with how to fill the gap left by the ace. Like the smoke exhaled by Ancelotti, the outlook for the season's end appears murky.
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