Real good news on injury front
MODRIC, MARCELO IN FRAME FOR REVENGE GAME Bilbao to face Cup nemesis Barcelona at the Camp Nou.
Real Madrid hope to have Luka Modric and Marcelo back fit as they seek to exact revenge for their recent Copa del Rey elimination at the hands of Celta Vigo when they return to Balaidos tomorrow.
Celta weathered a second-leg storm at home after pulling off a surprise 2-1 first-leg win at the Santiago Bernabeu to progress to the last four 4-3 on aggregate just over a week ago.
However, the roles look set to be reversed as a far stronger Real side travels north with Celta boss Eduardo Berizzo set to make a series of changes with his side’s Cup semifinal, second leg away at Alaves on Wednesday in mind.
Modric and Marcelo have missed the last two games through injury, but both returned to training on Thursday. However, Toni Kroos is suspended.
Cup revenge will also be on Athletic Bilbao’s minds when they travel to face Barcelona at the Camp Nou today.
Barca dumped Athletic out of the Copa del Rey for the sixth time in nine years in January.
The champions trail their eternal rivals by four points having also played a game more after a disappointing display in drawing 1-1 at Real Betis last weekend.
Barca bounced back to remain on course for a fourth straight final by beating Atletico Madrid 2-1 in their semifinal, first leg at the Vicente Calderon in midweek.
And Luis Enrique’s men could be handed a double injury boost themselves as Andres Iniesta has returned to training and Sergio Busquets is nearing a comeback form ankle ligament damage.
Rafinha, Arda Turan and Denis Suarez could all play after being left on the bench in midweek.
Defeat to Barca in midweek left Atletico’s final season at the Calderon in danger of petering out without a trophy.
However, they will be confident of a return to winning ways when lowly Leganes visit the Calderon today without a win in their last 10 games.
Third-placed Sevilla’s title ambitions were dealt a blow with a 3-1 defeat at Espanyol last weekend to leave them four points off the pace.
And their title credentials face another stiff test when sixthplaced Villarreal visit the Sanchez Pizjuan. – AFP