Ramos and Carvajal bolster Madrid defence for Champions League decider
Sergio Ramos, who has not played for Real Madrid since November 11 because of a hamstring problem, completes full training for the second day in a row.
Published : Dec 08, 2020 10:38 IST
Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos and right back Dani Carvajal have returned to training to boost Zinedine Zidane’s side for Wednesday’s game at home to Borussia Moenchengladbach, when its Champions League fate will be on the line.
Ramos, who has not played for Madrid since November 11 because of a hamstring problem, completed full training for the second day in a row.
Carvajal, who has been limited to four starts in all competitions this season due to two injuries, made his return to training on Monday.
Both players missed the 2-0 defeat away to Shakhtar Donetsk last week which obliges the 13-times European champion to beat Group B leader Gladbach to ensure it qualifies for the knockout stages for a record 24th consecutive year.
Defeat would see Madrid drop into the Europa League for the first time since 1994-95, when the competition was named the UEFA Cup, while it would also exit the Champions League with a draw unless Inter Milan manages to beat Shakhtar.
Ramos’s return could hardly come at a better time for Real, which has lost seven of its last nine Champions League games when missing its talismanic defender.
While Madrid is recovering important players in defence, it will be without forward Eden Hazard plus midfielders Fede Valverde, who is recovering from a broken leg, and Martin Odegaard, who did not train on Monday.