Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe

Carlo Ancelotti believes Kylian Mbappe's initial struggles to meet the demands of playing for Real Madrid are now over. (More Football News)nextbet

The Frenchman is their top scorer in LaLiga, netting nine goals in 15 appearances, as well as two in six Champions League games in his first season for Madrid. 

He also netted the opener in their 3-0 victory over Mexican side Pachuca as they won the Intercontinental Cup final on Wednesday, becoming just the third player to score in each of his first two finals for the club across all competitions in the last 10 years, after Gareth Bale and Marco Asensio.

These two teams are meeting for the first time in the tournament in group stage.

Hannan Shahid was named the hero of the match for his spectacular double. Pakistan's five goals, which decisively thrashed China in Hulunbuir, have secured their place in the semi-finals of the Asian Champions Trophy 2024, where they join India. This sets up the potential for an India vs. Pakistan final, though the two teams will first face off in their fifth match on Saturday.

"His adaptation period is over. He has already shown a good version of himself and could still improve," Ancelotti told reporters on Saturday.

"He has recovered well from the small injury he had. He is motivated, excited, and happy to be here. He needed that period, everyone does, but it's over now."

The Frenchman, who missed last weekend's 3-3 draw at Rayo Vallecano last weekend due to a muscle injury, initially struggled with a dip in form and adjusting to the Spanish side, but his resurgence has seen him score five goals in his last seven games for Madrid.

Ancelotti rued the injuries that have kept his four attacking stars from playing together. Vinicius Junior also suffered a muscle injury, missing three league games before returning as a substitute against Vallecano.

"They haven't played much together because sometimes Rodrygo or [Jude] Bellingham have been injured. But from what I've seen, they combine well and adapt to each other's characteristics," he added.

"Sometimes Mbappe has played on the left, sometimes Vinicius has moved inside, and other times Bellingham has drifted to the left. I'm not going to assign a fixed position to all four; I'll give them the freedom to find the right position."

Defenders Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao will be sidelined for several months with ACL tears suffered early in the season, but there was good news for David Alaba, who could soon return to bolster Madrid's defence before their next Champions League fixtures.

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"Alaba will return to group training in the end of December and will be available by mid-January," Ancelotti said.

Third-placed Madrid are on 37 points after 17 games, one behind Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, who play each other on Saturday, and have dropped points in two of their last three LaLiga matches (W1 D1 L1), having won nine of their previous 11 games in the competition (D1 L1).

However, they have not lost any of their last 11 matches against Sevilla in LaLiga (W9 D2), their second-best unbeaten run against them in the history of the competitionnextbet, after a 15-match unbeaten run between 1993 and 2003 (W13 D2).