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Carlo Ancelotti offers updates on Karim Benzema & Eder Militao before Club World Cup final.
Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Real Madrid might welcome back striker Karim Benzema and defender Eder Militao for Saturday’s Club World Cup final against Al-Hilal.
The duo were both injured in the 2-0 win over Valencia and have missed Real’s last two games, including Wednesday’s Club World Cup semi-final victory over Egyptian side Al Ahly.
That may be the last game both Benzema and Militao miss, however, as Ancelotti confirmed after the Al Ahly victory that he expects the two stars back in training soon.
“They’re not fully recovered yet,” Ancelotti conceded. “Karim is doing quite well but there are more doubts about Militao.
“They will train on Friday and we will see.”
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Ancelotti also had positive updates about the absences of both Dani Carvajal and Marco Asensio, who were surprised omissions from Wednesday’s squad.
“Carvajal will return, he had a fever today,” Ancelotti said. “So will Asensio, who had a muscle overload.”
Al Ahly was a challenge for Real Madrid despite the easy score. When they were leading 2-1 late in the second half, the Egyptian team missed a penalty before goals from Rodrygo and Sergio Arribas in stoppage time gave them the victory.
“After an hour, we thought we had everything won and we stepped off, but we finished well,” Ancelotti evaluated. “We controlled it well. Football ends when the referee whistles.
“In these games, you have more to lose than win, and you have to prepare well. You can’t relax.”