Carlo Ancelotti reveals Real Madrid injury latest ahead of Man City Champions League decider | OneFootball

Real Madrid take a 3-2 lead into the second leg

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti says he expects Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba to be available against Manchester City next week.

Rudiger and Alaba missed the Champions League knockout phase play-off first-leg at the Etihad Stadium through injury.

With Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao also absent, it meant Real Madrid were without their first choice back four against the reigning Premier League champions, whilst Lucas Vazquez was ruled out with a hamstring issue.

The result makes Los Blancos favourites to reach the last-16, where they could face rivals Atletico Madrid.

Speaking after the win at the Etihad, Ancelotti talked up the possibility of a double defensive boost for the second leg against Man City at the Santiago Bernabeu.

“We need Rudiger and Alaba for the return leg and I think they'll be available,” he told reporters. “It was a pretty surprising game and I didn't think the team would be so capable of showing that level of sacrifice at this stage."

Goals from Kylian Mbappe, Brahim Diaz and a 92nd minute winner from Jude Bellingham secured the win for Real Madrid, though Ancelotti was quick to heap praise on his makeshift defence.

“I said it a long while ago, but this is the way forward. This is where the season really starts and despite all the difficulties, we put in a good display and got a great result," he added. "The back four had never played together, not even in training.

"They were absolutely fantastic. Tchouameni has come in for a lot of criticism but he was incredible. Asencio's maturity continues to surprise people and Valverde and Mendy were fantastic. We've been able to bring something really positive out of an emergency situation."

“You have to be strong defensively here because if you're not they can score a bag of goals. I always tell the Spanish journalists that defending is about the attitude of the whole team. Today, we defended well as a unit.

“The team delivered a well-rehearsed defensive display. This was the first leg and it was very different to last year's game because we had more control and more of a threat going forward.”