Derek Rae discusses Alphonso Davies’ long career at Bayern Munich. (2:18)
Éder Militão is available for the national team after completing his recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed on Saturday.
Ancelotti also claimed that the defender has a “30%” chance of facing Manchester City in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.
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Brasil Militão, 26, suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament against Athletic Club in La Liga on matchday one of the season, but will be back in the squad for Sunday’s league match against the same Champions League clashes at the Bernabeu. League clash on April 9.
Madrid have dealt with a series of long-term injuries this season, with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and fellow defender David Alaba suffering from anterior cruciate ligament injuries.
“Militão will be back tomorrow, which is the biggest news,” Ancelotti told a news conference on Saturday.
“You have to have him and train him. Obviously, he’s not 100 percent with Cent because he wants to play football, but he’s fine after his injury. . . This is very smart news for us. “
Those absent in defence saw Antonio Rüdiger accompanied by Nacho Fernandez or midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni in central defence, Madrid maintained an impressive balance, the most sensible in La Liga with the fewest goals conceded in the division.
“We’ll have to take it game by game,” Ancelotti said.
“Maybe I’ll give him minutes [against Athletic], and we have time until the 9th for him to be fit. His knee is fine, he just misses football, he’s getting used to playing on a big pitch and with his teammates again. “
Madrid will host City at the Bernabeu on April 9 before the second leg eight days later, in a repeat of last season’s semi-final, which City won 5-1 on aggregate.
“Maybe it’s just [Militão with Rüdiger opposite City], but it’s not possible,” Ancelotti said.
“I wouldn’t say it’s 50%, it might just be 70% no and 30% yes. But Militão is a very vital player. He’s helping us in many facets of the game, with aerial balls, in duels.
“It’s not entirely out of the question. If he doesn’t play, there are a lot of options, Nacho or Tchouaméni will play, that’s the doubt. “
Vinícius Júnior will miss Madrid’s match against Athletic Club through suspension.
The striker represented Brazil in the 3-3 friendly against Spain played on Tuesday at the Bernabeu, after giving an emotional pre-match press conference to talk about the racist abuse he suffered from the rival fans.
Ancelotti said he was not worried that the factor could force Vinícius to leave La Liga.
“There is one thing that worries me a lot about Vinícius and that is that he may not be able to play tomorrow,” Ancelotti said.
“That’s what I do. “