June 25, (THEWILL) – Kylian Mbappé returned to full training with Real Madrid on Wednesday, following his recovery from acute gastroenteritis that required a brief hospitalisation in Miami last week. The French striker’s return comes at a crucial time for the Spanish giants, who face RB Salzburg in their final Group H fixture at the Club World Cup on Thursday evening.
The 26-year-old forward missed Real Madrid’s opening two matches in the tournament after falling ill during the team’s preparation in Florida. His absence was particularly felt during the disappointing 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal, though Xavi Alonso’s squad managed to bounce back with a convincing 3-1 victory over Mexican club Pachuca in their second group stage encounter.
Real Madrid currently sit atop Group H with four points from their two matches, holding the advantage over Austrian club, RB Salzburg, purely on goal difference. Both teams have identical records heading into their direct confrontation, making Thursday’s clash effectively a winner-takes-all encounter for the group’s top spot and automatic progression to the knockout rounds.
The mathematical permutations remain complex, with Al Hilal still mathematically capable of advancing despite their current third-place position on two points. The Saudi club will need to defeat Pachuca whilst hoping for a specific result in the Real Madrid versus Salzburg fixture to keep their tournament hopes alive.
Mbappé’s return provides a significant boost to Real Madrid’s attacking options. The former PSG striker has adapted well to the setup at the Santiago Bernabéu, and his availability for the crucial Salzburg match gives Alonso additional tactical flexibility in what promises to be a tense encounter.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
