Gareth Bale has resumed first-team training with Real Madrid as the club prepares for crucial domestic and European fixtures.
The next four games will see Madrid play two important league matches against Sevilla (away) and Valencia (home), along with their two-legged Champions League semi-final against Juventus.
After yesterday’s 3-0 victory over Almeria, Real Madrid once again trail first place Barcelona by two points with four league games remaining.
The league leaders have a relatively light run-in with matches against Cordoba (home), Real Sociedad (home), Atletico Madrid (away) and Deportivo (home); whereas Real Madrid have to play the league’s current fourth and fifth placed teams in successive weeks – who are battling for the final Champions League spot in the division – before closing the campaign against Espanyol (away) and Getafe (home).
That’s why the return of Gareth Bale to training earlier today is such good news for the club.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti previously stated he needs to be able to field his “strongest team” against Sevilla on Saturday, and the Italian is expected to name the Welshman in his squad this weekend.
Bale was diagnosed with an injury to his left calf on April 20th and was expected to miss two to three weeks. But it appears the forward has returned slightly ahead of schedule and could be included in the team’s starting eleven against Sevilla.
However, Ancelotti may choose to take a more cautious approach with Bale return and elect to start the Welshman on the bench.
In other news, striker Karim Benzema is expected to resume training shortly. But, Saturday’s match against Sevilla at the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium will come too soon for the France international.
It is expected that Benzema will be fit for the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals against Juventus next Tuesday in Turin.
Programming note: Sevilla vs. Real Madrid will be shown LIVE on Saturday starting at 2:00pm EST on beIN SPORTS and fuboTV (free 14-day trial).
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