Aurelien Tchouameni looks set to give Real Madrid a major fitness boost ahead of its Champions League showdown with Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old midfield dynamo has been out of action since picking up an ankle injury in Los Blancos’ defeat by AC Milan last time out in Europe on November 5. But according to the Spanish outlet AS, he’s making strong progress in his rehab and is eyeing a swift return, possibly for the upcoming titanic tussle, which reminisces the 2018 and 2022 finals clashes.
Tchouameni’s initial projected recovery time meant missing games until early December. However, he’s keen to push himself back as Madrid faces defensive woes especially after Eder Militao’s season was cut short by injury against Osasuna.
Carlo Ancelotti could be poised to position Tchouameni next to Antonio Rudiger at the defense’s core, with AS indicating that the Frenchman’s accelerated comeback may just fall in line for this crucial fixture.
Regarding Real Madrid’s approach post-Militao, Ancelotti pointed out earlier in November: “We have resources. The youngsters are very good, like [Raul] Asencio and as an emergency, we have Tchouameni.”
With only a couple of victories in their four Champions League outings, Madrid will land on Merseyside looking to clamber from the 19th rung on the Champions League ladder. David Alaba, Rodrygo and Dani Carvajal are also currently sidelined.
Liverpool, who will be missing Alisson Becker for the match, is the only team to have won all of its first four games in the tournament. However, it may also be without Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota at Anfield on Wednesday night as it seeks its first victory over Real Madrid since 2009.
Liverpool.com says: The Reds should have a good chance of coming out on top here given the relative struggles that Real Madrid has faced this season. While a win would be good news, it wouldn’t be that big a result in terms of the league standings.
Real Madrid will find a way through to the knockouts and the Reds should be able to cruise through. In terms of further ignited the Arne Slot era, however, it could be massively important and would represent another major statement after beating Bayer Leverkusen by four goals to nil.
