Brahim trains separately in Madrid's session

Real Madrid have put La Liga on hold until the Clasico after their win at the Balaidos Stadium against Celta and are already working towards a European reaction after the first defeat of the season - against Lille, with their minds set on the replay of the final of the last Champions League, on Tuesday against Borussia Dortmund at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The first contact at the Valdebebas training complex was with the squad separated into groups. Those who started the game on Saturday had a recovery session with a gentle run on the pitch late on Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, Andriy Lunin, Jesus Vallejo, Ferland Mendy, Dani Ceballos, Arda Guler, Endrick, Rodrygo Goes and Luka Modric worked intensely in a physical series under the orders of Antonio Pintus, followed by tactical work and games on a small-space pitch.

For the moment, Carlo Ancelotti did not bring Brahim Diaz back into the squad, as he continued his individual recovery in a week in which he is expected to return after overcoming a muscle strain. The aim is for him to be fit enough to make the squad for the Clasico.

Elsewhere, Austrian defender David Alaba, who was injured on 17 December 2023, is overcoming the problems of his long recovery from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left leg with meniscus involvement and is already working on his own and is beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Dani Carvajal completed Real Madrid's three absentees through injury in an important week in which they face a European clash against Borussia Dortmund before hosting Barcelona to the Santiago Bernabeu.

It will be Monday when Ancelotti will be able to prepare with all his available players for the clash against Dortmund. And he will do so at an unusual time, in an afternoon session, with training starting at 16.00 CET at the Real Madrid training complex in order to maximise the rest of his first-choice players.

 

October 20, 2024