Federico Valverde has become an essential player for Real Madrid in a season where injuries have plagued much of the squad. His recent absence from the team raised concerns about his fitness, especially with the crucial UEFA Champions League quarterfinals showdown against Atletico Madrid approaching. Now, coach Carlo Ancelotti has made a significant decision regarding Valverde’s availability for the game.
Wearing the captain’s armband in the knockout stage against Manchester City, Valverde has been a vital figure in Ancelotti’s system. However, alarm bells rang when he was left as an unused substitute against Girona and then omitted from the squads for Real Betis and Real Sociedad.
Against expectations, Ancelotti has opted to include Valverde in the squad for the Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid. Addressing the situation in a press conference, the Italian coach downplayed concerns, referring to Valverde’s condition as “slight discomfort.” Notably, Real Madrid did not release an official medical report on the midfielder’s status.
“He trained individually yesterday and felt good. Today, he will train with the team, and then we will decide whether he will play or not,” Ancelotti said on Monday. Following the training session at Valdebebas, Valverde left a positive impression, and despite not being at 100%, he has done enough to earn a place in the squad.
With Valverde available, Real Madrid’s main absences for the match include Jude Bellingham, who is suspended, as well as Dani Ceballos. Long-term injuries continue to sideline Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao. While Valverde’s exact role remains uncertain, his inclusion in the squad suggests Ancelotti is strongly considering him for the starting XI.
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Real Madrid’s recent supremacy over Atletico
Despite a challenging start to the season, Real Madrid has reaffirmed its status as a title contender. Now, they face an Atletico Madrid side in excellent form and also in the hunt for La Liga glory. However, when it comes to Champions League history, Los Blancos have consistently held the upper hand.
In head-to-head knockout encounters, Real Madrid has advanced on three occasions, while Atletico has only progressed once. Their most famous meetings came in two Champions League finals under Diego Simeone, both of which ended in heartbreak for Atletico as Real Madrid emerged victorious.
As they prepare for their 10th meeting in Europe’s premier club competition, Atletico Madrid will be eager to break their poor run in recent years and finally eliminate their city rivals to secure a place in the semifinals.
