Ancelotti hints at Vinicius' potential return for Real Madrid's showdown with Atalanta
Carlo Ancelotti suggested on Monday that Vinicius Junior (24) may return to the Real Madrid lineup for the crucial Champions League match against a formidable Atalanta side.
Initially, it was anticipated that Vinicius would be sidelined until the Intercontinental Cup final next week due to a hamstring injury sustained last month. However, Ancelotti informed the media that the player is a candidate to start in Bergamo on Tuesday evening.
"Vinicius is in good condition, but we need to evaluate him. His performance in today's training is crucial," Ancelotti stated.
"Rodrygo is back, and Bellingham is performing well. They will all participate in training today, after which we will make a decision."
Federico Valverde expressed his eagerness to have Vinicius return to assist the team in overcoming their challenging situation in the Champions League.
While Madrid trails leaders Barcelona by two points in La Liga with a game in hand, Ancelotti's squad currently occupies the 24th position in Europe's premier club competition and risks falling out of the playoff spots for the last 16 in Bergamo.
"It is always a joy to play alongside Vinicius and to have him as both a friend and a teammate," Valverde remarked. "We can see his enthusiasm to return to the pitch. It would be fantastic for us if he plays tomorrow. Ultimately, that decision rests with Carlo Ancelotti, but he consistently brings value to the team."
Madrid is set to face Atalanta, arguably the most in-form team in Europe, who recently matched a club record with nine consecutive victories in Serie A by defeating AC Milan.
This victory propelled Atalanta to the top of Italy's premier league, and under the guidance of Gian Piero Gasperini, they currently sit fifth in the Champions League, having conceded only one goal in five matches.
Some analysts have even labeled them as favorites for Tuesday's encounter, despite their previous defeat to Madrid in the European Super Cup.
"It will be a challenging match. Atalanta is in excellent form and has made significant improvements since the Super Cup," Ancelotti added.
They have achieved numerous victories and demonstrate strong competitive skills. We have a chance to accumulate points, and it is essential that we capitalize on these next three matches to secure qualification.
The primary objective is to qualify. We must gather those points, which will undoubtedly be challenging. Securing a position in the top eight appears somewhat complicated, so it is possible that we may need to navigate through the play-offs. Regrettably, that is the current situation.
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