Champions League: Real Madrid injury updates ahead of Liverpool return leg
Carlo Ancelotti recovers two players who are now over their respective muscular problems as Real Madrid play host to Liverpool at the Bernabéu leading the tie 2-5.
Real Madrid took to the practice pitches in Valdebebas this morning to complete their preparations for Wednesday’s return leg against Liverpool. Ancelotti’s team go into the game in a commanding position after thrashing the Reds 2-5 in the first leg at Anfield. Madrid will also have the benefit of a home advantage although they will be taking nothing for granted against Jürgen Klopp’s side.
While it looks as though the tie is over, Madrid have been surprised before - they remember beating Ajax 1-2 in Amsterdam in 2019, only to lose the second leg 1-4; last year, they bounced back after going three goals down to Chelsea in the quarter finals - just scraping through in extra-time. To highlight their task, Liverpool would need to win by a minimum of four goals eliminate the holders on Wednesday.
Carlo Ancelotti has two key players available again in one of the most decisive weeks of this year. After playing Liverpool, Madrid take on Barcelona in the Clásico on Sunday. Karim Benzema and Férland Mendy are both back to full training and available to play while David Alaba is making good progress from his hamstring injury and is now back working with the ball. In this morning’s session, he was seen talking with the coach and Dr. Mihic. He has been sidelined for three weeks after injuring his right thigh in the first leg in Liverpool.
Benzema and Mendy however are now back to full fitness. The French striker is over the discomfort to his left ankle which kept him out of Saturday’s league game against Espanyol. The left-back suffered an injury to the semimembranosus muscle in his left leg back in January.
Another of the absences today was Álvaro Rodríguez. The youth squad player, who came on right at the end of Saturday’s game against Espanyol, did not train with the rest of the squad.