Frenchman Kylian Mbappé will miss the Madrid derby at the Metropolitano against Atlético de Madrid, after medical tests conducted on Wednesday morning confirmed, following his request for a substitution in the match against Alavés, that he has a muscle injury in the biceps femoris of his left leg. This is his first injury as a Real Madrid player.

Real Madrid issued a medical report after the MRI conducted on Mbappé: "Following the tests performed today on our player Kylian Mbappé by Real Madrid’s Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with an injury to the biceps femoris of his left leg. Pending evolution."

The estimated recovery time after the medical tests is three weeks, meaning Mbappé will miss his first derby against Atlético de Madrid. He will also be unavailable for the Champions League match against Lille and the LaLiga game against Villarreal.

He will be unable to participate in France's matches during the October window for the Nations League, with the target for his return being October 19, when Real Madrid visits Celta de Vigo, just before the Spanish football clásico against Barcelona, for which Mbappé is expected to be fully fit.

On the same Wednesday, a rest day for the Real Madrid squad, Mbappé was already working on his recovery on a stretcher with Real Madrid’s physiotherapists at the Valdebebas training complex, according to club sources reported by EFE. The forward experienced discomfort in the second half against Alavés and asked Carlo Ancelotti to substitute him, with Arda Güler taking his place in the 80th minute.

Although Ancelotti stated in a press conference that Mbappé would have no problem playing the derby, the Italian coach received the bad news amid a series of injuries that have plagued the start of the season. "He's fine, just a little tight, and he asked for the substitution to avoid problems," 'Carletto' confirmed, though he will now be without Mbappé for the next three matches.

The French forward's absence will allow Ancelotti to implement the system change he had been considering for major matches, such as the one at the Metropolitano, where he will increase the midfield presence by removing a forward.

While losing Mbappé, Ancelotti will regain Eduardo Camavinga, who will rejoin group training on Thursday after overcoming a knee sprain that has kept him out of action this season.