Marca called it "savage". AS labelled it "violent". Mundo Deportivo went for the more sinister "chilling", while SPORT settled on "criminal".
Even Piers Morgan, no expert in Spanish football (or anything else) but never one to pass up a pile-on, could not be accused of hyperbole when describing the vague attempt at a tackle which earned Kylian Mbappe a red card against Alaves as "disgusting".
Real Madrid were leading 1-0 on Sunday afternoon in a scrappy contest when Mbappe became engulfed in red mist. Jolted out of his stride after a challenge which went unpunished, the Frenchman came hurtling towards the ball.
Vindication soon turned violent as Mbappe thrust his studs into the side of Antonio Blanco's mercifully guarded shin. Somehow, referee Cesar Soto Grado only produced a yellow card. A swift intervention from the VAR correctly saw that punishment upgraded to a straight red - a decision neither Mbappe nor any member of Madrid's coaching staff challenged.
A suspended Carlo Ancelotti was in no position to complain, contained by the plexiglass covering the executive box at Alaves' Mendizorroza, although he can scarcely have had any issues with the decision.
That is one of the most horrendous challenges weve ever seen from Mbappe.
EiF (@EiFSoccer) April 13, 2025
It looked like he wanted to hurt the guy with that challenge. He could have snapped his leg in 10 pieces.
Genuinely appalling challenge. Has to be banned for a while for that one.
It legitimately looked like Mbappe meant to break his leg, you do NOT go in like that otherwise.
Neal (@NealGardner_) April 13, 2025
Pathetic. Cant believe he just did that.
Mbappe wanted to end the guy's career there I can't believe he actually did that
Rk (@RkFutbol) April 13, 2025
I'm still baffled from that Mbappe tackle, I can't think of one reason why he'd go in like that. It genuinely looked like he just didn't want to play anymore
Noodle Vini (@vini_ball) April 13, 2025
Thhat was seriously one of the nastiest and most malicious tackles I can remember in a long time from Mbapp. Needs to get a serious ban after this, the player was lucky his leg wasnt broken.
De Ara Torres (@dearatorres) April 13, 2025
Mbappe was sent off three times during his Paris Saint-Germain career yet had only been booked on four occasions for Madrid this season. Limited to just eight passes and one touch in the opposition box during a patchy opening 38 minutes in Vitoria, Mbappe let the frustration of Madrid's challenging week get the better of him.
The defending Spanish and European champions were fresh from back-to-back defeats and had conceded nine goals across their previous three games. Mbappe was limited to one early chance in a humbling Champions League defeat to Arsenal on Tuesday night but will be available to face the Gunners at the Bernabeu next week as Madrid attempt to overturn a three-goal deficit.
Whether Mbappe is permitted to face Barcelona in this month's Copa del Rey final is another matter entirely. La Liga suspensions can be carried across to all domestic competitions in Spain if a player is ruled out for four or more games. A red card usually warrants a ban of between one and three matches, but Mbappe's punishment will only be decided after Soto Grado's refereeing report is filed.
Based upon the reaction from all four corners of the Spanish press (and one British loudmouth) Mbappe could have the book thrown at him.
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