Carlo Ancelotti offers updates on Karim Benzema & Eder Militao before Club World Cup final
By Tom Gott
Carlo Ancelotti has revealed Real Madrid could welcome both striker Karim Benzema and defender Eder Militao back to the squad for the Club World Cup final against Al-Hilal on Saturday.
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."
Ancelotti also had positive updates about the absences of both Dani Carvajal and Marco Asensio, who were surprise omissions from Wednesday's squad.
"Carvajal will return, he had a fever today," Ancelotti said. "So will Asensio, who had a muscle overload."
Despite the comfortable scoreline, Real Madrid made hard work of Al Ahly. They were 2-1 up late in the second half and saw the Egyptian side miss a penalty before stoppage-time goals from Rodrygo and Sergio Arribas secured 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."