Mbappe set to feature in Copa del Rey final despite red card ban

Kylian Mbappe was one of the main figures in the Alaves-Real Madrid clash, although not exactly for the good. The Frenchman was shown a red card during the first half after a reckless tackle on Antonio Blanco. Such was the severity of the Welshman's action at first glance that it was not crazy to think of a harsh sanction that would see him miss the Copa del Rey final against FC Barcelona.

However, this possibility seems practically ruled out once the minutes of the Mendizorroza clash have been viewed. In the report, the referee Soto Grado considered that Mbappe's tackle, which was too hard, took place "in the dispute for the ball", something that could save the Frenchman, as the referee considered, in terms of terminology, that his tackle was the same as the one that cost Manu Sanchez a red card a few minutes later.

"In the 38th minute, the player (9) Kylian Mbappe was sent off for the following reason: for entering with his foot in plumb line to the shin of an opponent, in the dispute of the ball, using excessive force," reads the referee's statement.

Likewise, the fact that his action did not have "harmful or injurious consequences" benefits the Frenchman in this respect, as article 130 of the regulations states that this type of action will lead to between 1 and 3 duels of sanction. In order to miss the Copa del Rey final, Mbappe's ban would have to be four or more matches, as in that case they would accumulate and the punishment would not only have to be served at national level in the competition in which he was sent off, but also in the rest of the competitions.