Real Madrid will have Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo, Eder Militao and Dani Ceballos available for Saturday’s La Liga clash with Villarreal.
Real Madrid will have Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo, Eder Militao and Dani Ceballos available for Saturday’s La Liga contest against Villarreal in a quadruple injury boost for the European and Spanish champions.
Mbappe made his return from a muscular injury off the bench against Lille in the Champions League on Wednesday, but he has been left out of the latest France squad, and it was suggested that the attacker would miss out against Villarreal, having not yet fully recovered from his recent issue.
Los Blancos head coach Carlo Ancelotti, though, has insisted that Mbappe’s problem has been “resolved”, and he is in the squad for the clash against Villarreal.
“He had a problem that seems to have been resolved. He has trained normally. I don’t get involved in what the national coaches do,” Ancelotti told reporters during his pre-match press conference. “Yes, the medical staff have spoken and have made this decision.”
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Mbappe is in the Real Madrid squad against Villarreal
Rodrygo, meanwhile, was an unused substitute against Lille in the Champions League due to a back issue, but the Brazilian has been cleared to feature this weekend.
Militao is also included despite fears that he could be facing a spell on the sidelines with a muscular problem that he suffered during the team’s 1-0 defeat last time out.
There is also a spot in the squad for Ceballos, with the Spaniard making a quick return from an ankle injury which was initially expected to keep him out until at least November.
Real Madrid will therefore only have three absentees this weekend, with Thibaut Courtois (hip), Brahim Diaz (thigh) and David Alaba (knee) unavailable for selection.
Los Blancos are currently second in the La Liga table, three points behind division leaders Barcelona, and they played out a 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid in the Madrid derby last weekend.
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Ancelotti has insisted that “nothing changes” after a defeat
Real Madrid will be aiming to recover from their defeat to Lille this weekend, and Ancelotti has insisted that “nothing changes” after the team’s first loss since January.
“Nothing happens, nothing changes. We have to reconnect and we have to do it soon and quickly. Nobody likes to lose but a defeat can bring you back to reality,” he said.
“We are not up to par but we are close to it. It is normal and we have to be patient. There is a lack of intensity in front and back and in the circulation of the ball. This defeat is an opportunity if we take advantage of it and react well. There has been self-criticism.”
Real Madrid have only been victorious in one of their last six La Liga matches against Villarreal, which proved to be a 4-1 success in the corresponding game during the 2023-24 campaign.
Real Madrid squad vs. Villarreal:
Lunin, Gonzalez, Mestre; Carvajal, Militao, Vazquez, Vallejo, F Garcia, Rudiger, Mendy, Jacobo; Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, Modric, Tchouameni, Guler, Ceballos; Vinicius, Mbappe, Rodrygo, Endrick
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