Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that David Alaba will be back in the squad for Sunday's La Liga clash with Las Palmas.
The Austria international has not played for Los Blancos since December 2023, having torn his ACL against Villarreal in La Liga, with the experienced defender spending the last 13 months recovering from the issue.
Alaba has returned to training in recent weeks, though, and Ancelotti has revealed that the 32-year-old will be available against Las Palmas and could potentially earn some minutes off the bench.
"David Alaba is fine. He played 40 minutes yesterday and he lacks a bit of rhythm, but he is fine. His knee is responding very well, he will be in the squad and could have minutes tomorrow against Las Palmas, but he will not start," Ancelotti told reporters.
Alaba made the move to Real Madrid from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2021, and he has represented the capital giants on 102 occasions in all competitions, scoring five goals and registering nine assists in the process.
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Alaba to return to Real Madrid squad for Las Palmas clash
Real Madrid will enter the clash with Las Palmas off the back of a 5-2 success over Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey, which booked their spot in the quarter-finals of the competition.
Los Blancos were 2-1 winners over Valencia in their last league match at the start of January, meanwhile, and they are currently second in the La Liga table, one point behind leaders Atletico Madrid.
"It's a match in which we have to compete, fight... bearing in mind that we have to be there. It's an important moment, because the second part of the season begins. We're close to first position," Ancelotti added during his press conference.
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Ancelotti addresses Endrick's chances of starting vs. Las Palmas after two-goal showing
Endrick came off the bench to score twice against Celta in the Copa del Rey, with the Brazilian now on four goals and one assist in 17 appearances for Real Madrid this term, but he has only managed one goal and one assist in 12 La Liga outings.
"My idea hasn't changed. I've always thought that we can count on Endrick. Taking into account the learning curve of a young player like him. He's 18 years old, he comes from Brazil and he has to adapt," Ancelotti told reporters when asked about the forward.
"He's progressing in the way that we thought he would progress when he arrived here. He's very serious, very professional. He's taken advantage of the minutes I've given him, taking advantage of his quality, scoring goals."
Endrick is yet to start for Real Madrid in La Liga this term, and he is again expected to be on the bench against Las Palmas, with Brahim Diaz likely to replace the suspended Vinicius Junior in the front three.
Matt Law
