Returning for Madrid’s Champions League opener are Bellingham and Tchouameni.

Midfielders Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni have returned from injury, according to Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, as Los Blancos start the Champions League trophy defense.

 

 

Tuesday’s match at the Santiago Bernabeu between the record 15-time champions and current holders, Stuttgart of Germany, will test the strength of Bellingham, an England international, and Tchouameni, a Frenchman.

Despite not practicing on Monday, Ancelotti stated that Brazilian defender Eder Militao will be prepared for the match.

“Bellingham is good, just as Tchouameni is good, and Militao too for tomorrow, who didn’t train today because he needed one more day of recovery,” Ancelotti stated.

“Two important players are back, but we also have the bad luck to have lost another important player (Brahim Diaz).”

After starting the season in a deeper midfield position than the previous year, Bellingham had to miss four La Liga games due to a calf injury that he sustained in August.

“(His return) is fantastic news, for what he brings in a football sense, as well as beyond that,” stated Dani Carvajal.

“To see him in the squad again is great, we count on him.”

The midfielder helped Madrid defeat his old team, Borussia Dortmund, in the Wembley final last season.

According to Ancelotti, his team was equally motivated to win this year’s competition.

“We’re as (excited) as always, what this competition brings us, where this club has been such a protagonist for so long, and keeps being one,” said Ancelotti.

“The Champions League is special for Real Madrid, we will try to compete until the end.”