REAL MADRID
Jude Bellingham injury update: will he be back against Valencia?
The Englishman is following a recovery plan to be able to have minutes against both Valencia and RB Leipzig.
The plan for Jude Bellingham’s return is carefully laid out. The Real Madrid coaching staff have planned the Englishman’s work week so that he can be at full speed against RB Leipzig (Wednesday March 6, 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT.) after testing himself against Valencia (Saturday 2 March, 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT.). The idea is to progressively increase the workload throughout the week so that he has minutes at Mestalla. It will be Ancelotti who will decide if Jude is ready to start or if he will have to wait for minutes from the bench.
In the first session of the three scheduled before the match against Valencia, the Englishman continued with his solitary work: he has been doing a lot of physio, gym and pool work, but at the moment there is no green light. It will be between Thursday and Friday, after watching his progression on the training pitch, when it will be decided whether he travels or not.
Bellingham could be included in the squad for the Valencia game
On Monday Bellingham was already seen on the ball at Madrid’s Valdebebas training ground. He walked out onto the grass to touch the ball, still undergoing individual exercises. It is expected that on Thursday he will do some exercises with the rest of his teammates and on Friday, the eve of the game at Mestalla, he will be back with the group.
This would be the last step to be able to make the squad for the game that will serve as a springboard to reach the round of 16 second leg against Leipzig, on Wednesday, March 6 at the Bernabéu in the Champions League.
Bellingham, 20, has missed three games since he went down injured with a sprained left ankle in the game against Girona (February 10). Luckily, a calmer calendar for Real Madrid has made his absence feel lighter than it could have been.
Ancelotti was without his top scorer in the first leg against RB Leipzig and in the LaLiga matches against Rayo Vallecano and Sevilla, games that Los Blancos have scored a solitary goal: Brahim scored in Germany, Joselu in Vallecas and Modric on Sunday against Sevilla.
Bellingham’s injury against Girona silenced the Bernabéu. However, the numbers say that Madrid, in terms of results, have managed to survive without the Englishman. He has missed eight games so far this season and the results only have one small black mark: the draw in Vallecas. The other seven games without Bellingham have finished in a victory for Ancelotti’s side.