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REAL MADRID

Bale to travel 4,000km for friendly against Albania

The Welshman is one of five players who will remain on international duty up until Tuesday; while the other six will be back in Madrid by Monday.

MadridUpdate:
Bale, durante el Gales-Dinamarca.
Getty

Real Madrid’s internationals have started to make their return to the Spanish capital after the international break. Six of the 11 players that have been on international duty will be back in Madrid by Monday, but will not be obliged to attend 16.30 training. Although some of them could show up at Valdebebas to begin preparations for Saturday’s away game at Eibar. The other five will remain on international duty for upcoming games on Monday on Tuesday.

Gareth Bale (Wales)

There remained the question of whether Bale would return to Madrid after Wales’ away clash with Denmark. The visitors needed to win the game in order to move up to League A. And although the Real Madrid striker scored, Wales lost 2-1 and thus remain in League B of the Uefa Nations League. Bale will now make the 4,000-kilometer journey to Elbasan for his country’s friendly game against Albania on Tuesday night, with Bale himself confirming he would be travel to the Albanian city on social media. "We go again on Tuesday. #TogetherStronger,” the Welshman tweeted on Sunday evening.

Ceballos, Isco and Asensio (Spain)

Ramos returned to Madrid after Spain’s defeat to Croatia on Thursday, during which he picked up an adductor muscle injury. He started his recovery in Valdebebas on Friday, before heading back to his hometown of Sevilla for the weekend to watch his horse become a World Champion at the Sabic Grand Final. Ceballos, Isco and Asensio will travel back to Madrid on Sunday night, after the Spain-Bosnia game in Las Palmas in Gran Canaria, in which the three players started for Spain coach Luis Enrique.

Modric (Croatia)

Croatia almost had the win in Wembley against England, but in the end it was not to be, and the 2-1 defeat sees them drop down to League B of the Uefa Nations League. Modric played all 90 minutes, as he did in the 3-2 victory over Spain on Thursday, and has already returned to Madrid.

Soccer Football - UEFA Nations League - League A - Group 4 - England v Croatia - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - November 18, 2018 Croatia's Luka Modric reacts after the match Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley
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Soccer Football - UEFA Nations League - League A - Group 4 - England v Croatia - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - November 18, 2018 Croatia's Luka Modric reacts after the match Action Images via Reuters/John SibleyJOHN SIBLEYAction Images via Reuters

Courtois (Belgium)

Courtois played his final game of the international break with Belgium against Switzerland on Sunday night, which finished 5-2 to Switzerland. And the ex-Chelsea shot stopper will be looking forward to getting back to Madrid and putting the five goals he conceded in that game behind him. Courtois also played the full 90 minutes of the 2-0 win over Iceland in Brussels on Thursday.

The rest

German international Kroos is the only Madridista who plays on Monday, and will likely return to training with Madrid on Wednesday. Germany’s poor run of form in the World Cup has continued into the Uefa Nations League, with Low’s side, already relegated to League B, looking for their first win in the competition against Netherlands on Monday.

On Tuesday, Varane and Valverde will be available for France’s game against Uruguay; while Vinicius will feature for Brazil U20s in their clash with Colombia.