Spanish media slam Real Madrid ahead of Man City game as Kylian Mbappe 'lifeline' sorely missed

Real Madrid were defeated again in La Liga on Monday evening by Getafe as they prepare to welcome Manchester City to the Bernabeu

Real Madrid lost 1-0 to mid-table Getafe on Monday as they surrendered ground in their bid for the La Liga title. And their situation has been dubbed a "crisis" ahead of Champions League knockout matches against Manchester City.

Los Blancos parted ways with manager Xabi Alonso in January after what they considered to be lacklustre results, with former player Alvaro Arbeloa stepping in. But things have not improved.

They failed to bypass the play-off round in the Champions League and their duel with rivals Barcelona for the league title in Spain has been derailed in recent weeks. The 1-0 defeat this week, which saw them booed off by their own fans and Franco Mastantuono sent off in stoppage time, comes after an unexpected 2-1 loss away at Osasuna. They now trail the Catalan side by four points.

With Pep Guardiola's men set to travel to the Spanish capital on March 11 and welcome Real Madrid to the Etihad on March 17, City's opponents are in turmoil and without star forward Kylian Mbappe. Spanish media pulled no punches with their evaluations after this latest setback.

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Marca

The upcoming clash with City has been framed as Real Madrid's daunting cup final by Marca. Having described the current situation as a "crisis", a report read: "Real Madrid continues their freefall.

"What seemed like a turnaround just two weeks ago has turned out to be a mirage and the season has once again become a disaster. The big test is now in the Champions League, where there's a feeling that Real Madrid's season hinges on it. The tie against Manchester City is a true final. A final that could be the end.

"Approaching that match with doubts, lacking confidence and with the atmosphere in turmoil doesn't seem like the best approach. And let's not forget, Mbappe is out of action."

AS

Tomas Roncero of AS went one step further. He wrote: "Until today [Monday], I dreamed of a heroic double: La Liga and the Champions League. Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but my age prevents me from being unfaithful to my heart and my tormented mind.

"Believing that this Madrid team will beat City and overcome this four-point deficit with Barca is an act of faith. But faith has to be worked for, earned, nurtured. That's not the case here…"

His report also touched on Mbappe's absence. The French superstar is suffering from a knee injury. While the club have ruled out surgery, the player is reportedly unhappy with how his ailment has been dealt with and is seeking a second opinion, undergoing tests in Paris.

The report continues: "It's clear that Kylian himself or the doctors haven't handled this knee sprain wisely and he's sorely missed. His goals were a lifeline for us. If this is going to be a long-term problem, we're in trouble."

Sport

Sport also stressed the importance of the Champions League matches against City, labelling them potential watershed moments for boss Arbeloa. A report reads: "Real Madrid fans are fed up with humiliation and are no longer staying silent.

"The supporters of the club have endured a drought of titles, good football and connection with the players over the last season and a half. It doesn't matter who the coach is: Carlo Ancelotti, Xabi Alonso, Alvaro Arbeloa... When none of them can find the right formula, the blame begins to fall on others.

"The tie against Manchester City is shaping up to be decisive and a turning point. And we're not just talking about the season; we're talking about an entire project and how it's being managed."

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