What happened: Kylian Mbappe has passed his medical tests and is in the final stages of his return from injury, according to reporting from Abraham Romero relayed by Fabrizio Romano. The France forward is expected to be available for Real Madrid's squad for El Clasico against Barcelona on Sunday. Mbappe completed a short group session before working individually in the gym, per @MadridXtra.

Why it matters: Mbappe's availability swings the biggest fixture of the LaLiga calendar, with title implications still on the table in the closing weeks of the 2025-26 season. His return ends a recovery saga that drew public scrutiny, including criticism over a holiday trip during rehab that Alvaro Arbeloa publicly defended. Real Madrid badly need their top scorer with Ferland Mendy reportedly facing a long-term layoff.

What to watch: Watch for confirmation in Real Madrid's official squad list ahead of Sunday's El Clasico and whether Mbappe starts or is eased in off the bench. Coaching staff will weigh minutes load given he has only just rejoined full training.