Madrid's Militao Returns as Alonso Plans a Gentle Rest for Valverde

Militao returns as Madrid train ahead of Villarreal

Real Madrid kicked off a new training session on Thursday as they gear up to host Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday.

The big news was the comeback of Brazilian defender Eder Militao, who had been sidelined by an injury in the win over Kairat Almaty in the Champions League.

Militao was involved in a late challenge during last weekend's Madrid derby when a shot from Alexander Sørloth blocked a scoring chance, contributing to the 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid.

According to Marca, Militao underwent specialized treatment that allowed him to complete training on Thursday.

Meanwhile, injured players Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger, Ferland Mendy, and Trent Alexander-Arnold continued their rehab work.

With the rest of the squad at his disposal, coach Xabi Alonso began preparation for the eighth round of La Liga to secure three points after the painful defeat to Atletico Madrid, which left them one point behind Barcelona.

The session started with activation and mobility drills at the Valdebebas training complex, then players split into groups for crossing and finishing, followed by tactical work and an 8v8 practice match, as reported by the club's official site.

Madrid will complete their second and final training session before Villarreal tomorrow morning, after which Alonso is expected to hold a press conference.

Militao has appeared in six matches this season, five in La Liga and one in the Champions League, scoring one goal. He endured a serious knee injury last season that kept him out from late November to the end of the campaign, featuring 18 matches with one goal and one assist.

Militao joined Real Madrid from Porto in the summer of 2019 for 50 million euros. The Brazilian has won La Liga three times, the Copa del Rey once, the Spanish Super Cup twice, the Champions League twice, the UEFA Super Cup twice, and the Club World Cup once.

Rest for Valverde

Positive news for Alonso: midfield maestro Federico Valverde could be rested in the coming days, with a final decision likely to come at the end of the next week when Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa releases the squad for friendlies against the Dominican Republic and Uzbekistan on October 10 and 13 during the international window.

Given that the two friendlies in Malaysia involve extra travel, Valverde could be spared those matches, though he remains a key captain for Uruguay and typically wants to play everything.

Nevertheless, this rest could benefit the player, and Bielsa will discuss the plan with him. The Argentine mentor was in Madrid last week delivering a coaches' lecture, and will coordinate with Valverde to assess his condition.

If confirmed, the October break could help Valverde regain form quickly, with no long delay expected.

A strong start

Real Madrid began the season strongly, winning six consecutive league games: Osasuna (1-0), Oviedo (3-0), Mallorca (2-1), Real Sociedad (2-1), Espanyol (2-0), and Levante (4-1), before a heavy 5-2 loss to Atlético Madrid. They are currently second in La Liga with 18 points, one behind Barcelona and two behind Villarreal, five ahead of Elche.

Madrid will host Villarreal at the Bernabéu in the next round, then face Getafe after the international break, before the highly anticipated Clasico against Barcelona on October 26.

In the Champions League, Real Madrid started well with wins over Marseille (2-1) and Kairat (5-0). They will face Juventus on October 22, followed by Liverpool at Anfield on November 4. Real Madrid sit second in their group with six points, level with Bayern Munich on goal difference behind the leaders.

Country's pride aside, Real Madrid fans can breathe a little easier knowing the team is back to their best early in the season.

Punchlines

Two snipers' punchlines to brighten your day: 1) "If Real Madrid keep clean sheets, the rain will have to pay admission." 2) "Militao's knees must be so happy—he finally gets to walk into a room without someone asking if he can bend reality."