Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said he could take a controlled risk with Kylian Mbappe's fitness ahead of the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday against Barcelona, but would not be "kamikaze".
French superstar Mbappe missed the semifinal victory over Atletico Madrid on Thursday but flew out to Saudi Arabia on Friday to join the squad before the Clasico in Jeddah.
Mbappe is recovering from a knee sprain he suffered at the end of December, which was expected to take three weeks to heal.
Asked if the forward, Madrid's top goalscorer this season with 29 strikes across all competitions, could play with pain-killing injections, Alonso said Madrid would be careful.
"It's a decision that we have to take between the staff, the players and the doctors," Alonso told a news conference.
"We have to measure the risk, to know the moment we're in, what we're playing for, and then take the decisions we take. But we are not kamikaze when we take decisions. It's a controlled risk."
Alonso explained that Mbappe was feeling a lot better after missing last weekend's win over Real Betis in LaLiga and the derby clash against Atletico.
"He's doing a lot better, he wouldn't have been quite ready to face Atletico and we decided not to accelerate (his return)," said the coach.
"We had in mind that if we got to the final, according to how he felt, we could see about him coming here.
"When he trains today we'll have all the information we need and see if he's ready to start or to play a bit less."
Winning the Super Cup would be Alonso's first piece of silverware since joining Madrid last June and would ease the pressure on his shoulders.
The Spaniard appeared close to the sack towards the end of 2025 after a poor run of form, but Madrid have won their last five matches.
"Projects take time... we're evolving in terms of football, emotionally, the team's spirit," said Alonso.
"We feel connected with the players. These types of matches could have a big impact on the rest of the season."
MBAPPE THE 'BEST'
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said Mbappe is the man of the moment but backed his team to succeed despite his arrival in Saudi Arabia.
"At the moment Mbappe is the best striker... he's scored many, many goals, and he's a world-class player, that's what I can say," admitted Flick.
However, the German coach was keen to point out that last season his side beat Mbappe's Madrid on all four occasions they met.
Barca thrashed them 5-2 in last season's Spanish Super Cup final, as well as winning both LaLiga Clasicos and the Copa del Rey final.
In their one meeting with Alonso's side this season, Madrid secured a 2-1 league win.
"How many Clasicos have we played in the last year and a half? And how many did we win? We lost one," said Flick.
"I know he's a fantastic player and for him with space behind the (defence) he's really great...
"We will adapt something, like we always do, but it's not especially about Mbappe, it's about Real Madrid, it's about how we want to play and how we expect they want to."