Real Madrid could welcome back defensive duo for Manchester City return leg after latest training update

Real Madrid have been handed a major injury boost in defence, with Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba returning to training.

Rudiger had missed each of Los Blancos’ last four matches with a muscle problem he picked up against Espanyol at the start of February.

Alaba was back on the sidelines barely five games after initially returning from a lengthy knee problem.

The pair could return for the second leg of their Champions League knockout round play-off tie on Wednesday.

They have been forced to field a makeshift centre-back pairing of Raul Asencio and Aurelien Tchouameni in recent matches.

While Asencio has made the most of the opportunities handed to him, Madrid could really do with a more experienced figure, especially for the latter stages of the Champions League.

It is still unclear if either Rudiger or Alaba will be passed fit for the clash against Man City, but their return to training is certainly a welcome development.

Madrid could be tempted to adopt a more conservative approach for the fixture as they target a place in the last-16. They lead 3-2 after the first leg.

The La Liga giants drew 1-1 with Espanyol over the weekend and could drop down to second in the La Liga table if Barcelona defeat Rayo Vallecano later today.

Man City will head into Wednesday’s clash on the back of an emphatic 4-0 victory over Newcastle United, thanks in no small part to a hat-trick from recent signing Omar Marmoush.