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Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed Real Madrid expect to welcome the injured trio of David Alaba, Antonio Rudiger and Lucas Vazquez back in time for the Champions League play-off second leg against Manchester City.
Madrid secured a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over City in the first leg, despite heading to the Etihad Stadium with a back four of Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni, Raul Asencio and Ferland Mendy.
A defensive injury crisis left Ancelotti forced to ask two midfielders, Valverde and Tchouameni, to drop into his back line, but the pair may be able to return to their natural positions as Alaba, Militao and Vazquez close in on their returns.
“They are improving,” Ancelotti said of the group. “They will continue with individual training until Monday and from Tuesday, they will be with the group. Available for the match against Manchester City.”
Vazquez, himself a stand-in right-back to cover for the injured Dani Carvajal, has only missed a matter of weeks with a minor hamstring injury, while Alaba tweaked a muscle in late January just four games into his return from a year-long absence with an ACL injury.
Madrid then lost the reliable Rudiger to a muscle injury of his own soon after, leaving them without any of their three recognised centre-backs as Eder Militao continues his recovery from his own ACL tear.
Asencio has filled in admirably but Ancelotti has not shied away from acknowledging the 22-year-old’s likelihood of returning to the bench when his senior teammates return.