Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti confirmed a huge injury boost for his side ahead of their Champions League play-off second leg against Manchester City.
The defending champions looked like they were heading to a first-leg defeat at the Etihad Stadium after Erling Haaland converted from the spot in the 80th minute.
However, a remarkable turnaround in the game’s dying moments saw Real score twice, courtesy of Brahim Diaz and Jude Bellingham – to snatch a dramatic 3-2 win.
The result puts Ancelotti’s side in a commanding position ahead of the second leg at the Bernabeu and there was more good news for the 15-time winners ahead of Wednesday’s clash.
Defensive injuries have seen Real deploy midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni alongside 21-year-old Raul Asencio in central defence for the past three games.
But Ancelotti is now once again able to call upon experienced centre-backs Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba after the pair were seen in training on Tuesday.
While Alaba is unlikely to be thrown straight back into the starting XI having not started a game since December of 2023, Ancelotti confirmed that Rudiger is in contention to make his first start since suffering a muscle injury at the start of February.
‘Rudiger can play from the start, Tchouameni can play as a pivot and Asencio can play as a centre-back,’ Ancelotti confirmed in a press conference.
Real, though will still be without makeshift right-back Lucas Vazquez who picked up a hamstring injury prior to the first leg.
Federico Valverde filled in at right-back against City last week but it nursing a knock after their weekend draw with Osasuna.
‘Lucas Vazquez will be on the bench, but he has not yet completed his recovery plan,’ Ancelotti confirmed.
‘We’ll see how Valverde, who had a knock against Osasuna, is. Raul (Asencio) can also play at right-back.’
Speaking at the weekend, City boss Pep Guardiola suggested his team had little more than a 1 per cent chance of progressing to the last-16, but Ancelotti is confident that his opposite number’s comments were little more than mind games.
‘He really doesn’t think so,’ Ancelotti responded. ‘Tomorrow I’m going to ask him before the game.
‘He thinks he has more just like we don’t think we have 99%. We think we have a small advantage, take advantage of it and play the same game as in the first leg, which went well.’
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