Kylian Mbappe’s debut at Real Madrid has been good, with performances that are neither stunning nor lackluster, but Saturday’s La Liga Clasico provides the French superstar with a platform to build on.
The derby against league leaders Barcelona is the type of game where contributing to a win can earn him both credit and time, as he adjusts to life in the Spanish capital after moving from Paris Saint-Germain in June.
Mbappe made a “dream” move to Madrid from PSG following years of unsuccessful attempts by the Spanish champions to entice him to La Liga.
The 25-year-old forward has eight goals in 13 games in all competitions but does not appear to be fully integrated into the club, as coach Carlo Ancelotti searches for the best way to accommodate him.
If he scores against Barcelona and helps Real Madrid equal the Catalans’ all-time record of 43 straight La Liga games without defeat, everything will be easier for the striker.
“We are satisfied with him, because he’s scored goals,” Ancelotti told reporters Friday.
“I think he is gradually getting closer to his best level, but we are in no hurry, neither the staff nor him.
“Obviously, he will continue to improve, because he has all the qualities to do so.”
Jude Bellingham created the blueprint for Mbappe last season, netting twice on his Clasico debut to snatch Madrid the game, and also scored a last-minute Bernabeu winner in the second league clash against Barcelona.
“(In Mbappe) we have a striker that can score 30, 35, 40 goals,” said Ancelotti, as he took goalscoring responsibilities away from Bellingham, who is playing deeper in midfield this season.
The coach also said this week he would rather Mbappe “scores goals than presses”, again highlighting his hopes that the Frenchman will increase his attacking output.
Mbappe has six goals in La Liga — by contrast Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski leads the scoring charts with 12, with the Catalans holding a three-point lead over Madrid at the top.
Problematic weeks
In Wednesday, Real Madrid came back from two goals down to defeat Borussia Dortmund 5-2 in the Champions League, but Mbappe did not score.
The forward contributed to Antonio Rudiger’s goal and looked sharp, but it was his strike partner Vinicius Junior who caused the most damage with a spectacular hat-trick.
Mbappe, who stated earlier this season that he wanted to score 50 goals for Madrid, was unable to score in the stunning Champions League comeback that made Madrid such a tempting option.
The forward has had several off-field issues in recent weeks.
According to sources in Sweden, Mbappe is being investigated for rape following a visit to Stockholm earlier this month, though Swedish investigators have not identified him.
Mbappe has blasted the reports as “fake news,” and his lawyer has told AFP that the player will sue for libel.
He is in a dispute with PSG over 55 million euros ($59.5 million) in past salary, which the French club refuses to pay, and he has faced criticism for missing France’s recent Nations League games after recovering from a thigh injury.
The Clasico will not solve Mbappe’s difficulties, but a standout performance will put him back in the spotlight for the right reasons.
Mbappe starts in the middle for Madrid but frequently moves to his preferred left flank, swapping positions with Vinicius.
“How Mbappe arrives at the Clasico — much ado about nothing,” read the headline in the Barcelona-based publication Mundo Deportivo on Friday.
The forward may silence critics in Catalonia if he adds to his six goals in four Champions League outings versus Barcelona, all for PSG.
If the Clasico was once watched by more than half a billion people, captivated by Madrid great Cristiano Ronaldo’s fights with Barcelona icon Lionel Messi, Mbappe and Barcelona’s adolescent star Lamine Yamal may come to characterize the next age of the conflict.
For the time being, Mbappe will settle for a decent performance and result to cover the flaws as he settles in at Madrid and the rest of the team settles around him.