Real Madrid News
Official: Liverpool starting lineup against Real Madrid
Liverpool will be looking for revenge as they host Real Madrid at Anfield tonight. The Reds have not been enjoying the best of domestic seasons so far, but remain undeterred on their path to a possible seventh Champions League title.
Alisson has arguably been Pool’s best player this season, and will lead the charge tonight again, from goal. Virgil van Dijk returns to the team sheet after spending the last few weeks out due to injury. He is aided by Jose Gomez in central defence.
Familiar faces in Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson provide width from the back from the right and left, respectively.
Fabinho takes up the responsibility of screening the defence alongside Stefan Bajcetic, while Jordan Henderson will likely start as the most advanced of the three players.
Darwin Nunez has played on the left-wing recently, with Cody Gakpo given the keys to lead the line as the no. 9. Mohamed Salah rounds off what is a very narrow front-three from the right-wing.
⭐ #LIVRMA TEAM NEWS ⭐
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 21, 2023
Our line-up to face @realmadrid tonight in the #UCL last-16 first leg 🔴
Confirmed Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson; Bajcetic, Fabinho, Henderson; Nunez, Gakpo, Salah
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid defender takes major step towards comeback; set for return after international break
Real Madrid are finally beginning to see a clear path back for Eder Militao, with the defender now in the final phase of his rehabilitation and increasingly expected to return after the next international break.
Militao has been sidelined since suffering a tear to the proximal biceps femoris tendon in his left leg during the meeting with Alaves last April.
The injury required surgery, but his recovery has now reached a stage where his return can be discussed in more concrete terms.
Militao steps up rehabilitation at Valdebebas
While Real Madrid completed their preparations for Tuesday night’s trip to Elche, Militao was working separately from the main group at the Valdebebas Training Centre.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the Brazilian defender carried out specific exercises with the club’s rehabilitation staff and physiotherapists on pitches 1 and 2.
The work represents another step in a recovery process that has kept him away from competitive action for several months.
Mind you, Militao will not be involved against Elche, but the latest signs are considerably more encouraging for what comes next.
Return now expected after international break
The timeline surrounding Militao’s comeback is finally becoming clearer. Provided his recovery continues at its current pace, Real Madrid expect the centre-back to be available to Mourinho once the international break is over.
That break is scheduled to take place from the end of September into the first week of October, meaning Militao could be back by mid-October at the latest.
For a defender who has endured another significant spell on the sidelines, simply having a defined target gives an important moment in his rehabilitation.
Real Madrid still missing players
Militao’s progress is particularly welcome because Real Madrid continue to deal with several absences in the squad.
On that note, Rodrygo and Ferland Mendy remain on the injury list and are not expected to return as quickly as Militao.
Both these players are therefore ruled out of the Elche fixture, leaving Mourinho without several established options.
Beyond Elche, though, Militao’s return offers Real Madrid something far more valuable: another experienced defensive option for the demanding weeks ahead.
After surgery and months of rehabilitation, the Brazilian is now entering the final stretch, and if there are no setbacks, Real Madrid could have their defender back in the squad around the middle of October.
