In what could be a big sigh of relief for Real Madrid, a report from Mundo Deportivo has affirmed that Thibaut Courtois and Dani Ceballos returned to partial training at Valdebebas on Sunday, offering a potential boost ahead of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg against Arsenal.
The outlet mentions that both players completed a portion of the group training session as manager Carlo Ancelotti begins to assess their readiness for Tuesday night’s clash in London.
Real Madrid have temporarily shifted focus away from their frustrating La Liga campaign, particularly after a disappointing 1-2 defeat to Valencia, which allowed Barcelona to close the gap to just four points.
Attention now turns fully to Europe, where Ancelotti is facing some crucial decisions—especially concerning his goalkeepers.
There are several doubts
Andriy Lunin missed training entirely due to a muscle issue in his soleus, raising questions over his availability.
Courtois, who has sat out Madrid’s last three fixtures with a muscle injury of his own, managed to complete some work on the pitch with his teammates, signalling progress.
However, a final decision on his involvement against Arsenal will depend on how he responds over the next 48 hours.
What about Ceballos?
Meanwhile, Ceballos also took part in a session focused on fitness and ball work as he attempts to prove he is ready for Champions League action. If not, he could return in time for the upcoming La Liga clash against Alaves.
Meanwhile, the players who started against Valencia underwent a lighter recovery session, while the likes of Rail Asencio, Jesus Vallejo, Arda Guler, Rodrygo, and others trained at a higher intensity.
Notably absent was Ferland Mendy, who remains ruled out for the Arsenal trip.
Defensive depth remains a concern with Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao also out due to long-term knee injuries, and Aurelien Tchouameni unavailable due to suspension.
However, Federico Valverde and Antonio Rudiger, despite post-Valencia discomfort, are expected to be fit.
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