Him and Trent are inching closer
Real Madrid returned to training at Valdebebas on Monday under rainy conditions, with the biggest takeaway being Antonio Rüdiger’s partial reintegration into group work. The German centre-back trained alongside his teammates for part of the session, a clear sign that his comeback is getting closer, even if it won’t come in time for the trip to Lisbon.
Neither Rüdiger nor Trent Alexander-Arnold will be available for the match against Benfica, but both are nearing full fitness. The club is targeting a return as early as next weekend against Rayo Vallecano, with the Valencia match two weeks from now seen as a more conservative fallback option.
Kylian Mbappé and Álvaro Carreras, meanwhile, continued with individual training programs at moderate intensity. According to the club, both players are expected to be available for the Champions League fixture in Lisbon despite not training fully with the group. Mbappé worked alone on the pitch, while Carreras followed a tailored on-field session.
Eder Militão and Ferland Mendy remain sidelined as they continue their respective recovery processes. Militão trained indoors in the gym, while Mendy stayed on an individualized program away from full team activity.
As a result, Carlo Ancelotti’s squad list for the Benfica match will remain largely unchanged. The lone addition will be Aurélien Tchouaméni, who returns after serving a suspension during Real Madrid’s win over Villarreal at La Cerámica.
Category: General Sports
