Two key defensive players could be back for the City match
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Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 16.03.24. | 15:09
Both players expected to be out until August but the recovered ahead of schedule
Real Madrid barely scrapped through in the Champions League and then drew current European champions Manchester City in the quarter-final of the competition. Not a good draw by any means, but some good news have arrived from the club’s treatment room. Just a few hours after the draw in Nyon, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti stated his hope of having Éder Militão and Thibaut Courtois available before the first leg against the current European champions. In fact, right after the international break. Courtois tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee just before the start of the season, so there were already speculations that his competitive year had ended before it even began. The same applied to Éder Militão, who suffered an identical injury just three days later.
However, both could return much earlier than initially predicted in mid-August.
"We are better than ever. We're doing well in La Liga, we've progressed to the Champions League quarterfinals. Courtois and Militão have returned. I am optimistic. They started training with the team this week, and we'll use this international break to play friendly matches with the youth team and get them back into rhythm. I think they will be ready for the match on March 31st against Athletic Bilbao. We won't take any risks. They are doing very well so far“ Ancelotti commented briefly after the draw.
This means that if everything goes according to plan, both Militão and Courtois should be ready for the first leg of the quarterfinals against Manchester City in Madrid, scheduled for April 9th. The return leg is seven days later in Manchester. However, what Ancelotti should be concerned about are potential suspensions. Mundo reports that Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, and Aurélien Tchouaméni are all one yellow card away from suspension, and they are all key members of Real Madrid's team this season. If any of them receive a yellow card in the first leg, they won't be eligible to play in the return leg.
LA LIGA - MATCHDAY 29
Friday
Sociedad - Cadiz 2-0 (1-0)
/Merino 28, Zakharyan 68/
Saturday
16.00: (1.85) Mallorca (3.40) Granada (4.60)
18.15: (6.75) Osasuna (4.10) Real Madrid (1.58)
20.30: (2.95) Getafe (3.40) Girona (2.40)
23.00: (1.55) Ath.Bilbao (3.80) Alaves (7.00)
Sunday
16.00: (2.00) Sevilla (3.40) Celta (3.90)
18.15: (1.95) Las Palmas (3.50) Almeria (3.90)
18.15: (2.20) Villareal (3.50) Valencia (3.50)
20.30: (2.50) Rayo Vallecano (3.25) Betis (3.15)
23.00: (2.45) Atl.Madrid (3.50) Barcelona (3.00)
***odds are subject to change***
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