Kylian Mbappe shows off gruesome face injury after requiring stitches following Real Madrid's draw with Girona

The incident occurred in the 89th minute of Friday’s clash when Mbappe, attempting to drive into the penalty area from the right wing, was caught by a stray elbow from Girona defender Vitor Reis.

The impact was immediate and severe, resulting in a deep wound above his right eyebrow that began to bleed profusely on the pitch. Despite the visible damage, referee Alberola Rojas opted not to award a foul, much to the frustration of the home support. Mbappe took to Instagram to share an image of the injury with his followers.

Once the match concluded, the true extent of the damage became apparent in the locker room. Club medical staff determined that the fracture-free wound was deep enough to require intervention, and Mbappe needed three stitches to close the gash.

According to Diario AS, Mbappe was a notable absentee from Real Madrid's Sunday morning training session. While his team-mates took to the grass to begin preparations for their upcoming European commitments, the 27-year-old was restricted to indoor work.

He spent the morning in the gym under the watchful eye of the club’s physios, focusing on recovery rather than ball work.

The sight of Mbappe with facial protection is not a new one for football fans, following his broken nose during the summer's European Championship.

However, Real Madrid have reportedly ruled out the use of a full protective mask this time around. Internal discussions have suggested that the nature of the eyebrow injury does not necessitate such a restrictive piece of equipment, which can often hinder a player's peripheral vision.

Instead, the medical team is currently exploring a lighter form of protection. They are working on a specialised adhesive shielding or a smaller bandage setup that will safeguard the stitches without the bulk of a traditional mask.

The most pressing concern for Madridistas is the forward’s availability for the crucial trip to face Bayern Munich in the second leg of Madrid's Champions League quarter-final tie on Wednesday. While he missed the latest training session, the club have indicated that his presence in the starting lineup at the Allianz Arena is not in doubt, with Real aiming to overturn a 2-1 aggregate deficit from the first leg.

It is expected that he will travel with the squad to Germany and step back onto the pitch for the final training session on Tuesday.