Injured Real Madrid duo take a step forward in recovery

Real Madrid completed their final training session before hosting Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday evening in the third round of La Liga.

Real Madrid go into the game without as many as seven absentees.

Indeed Rodrygo, Eder Militao, Endrick, Thiago Pitarch, Raul Asencio, Ferland Mendy and Aurelien Tchouameni missed the last two games and are yet to fully recover.

As such, the squad worked with few changes from the group available for Tuesday’s match against Real Sociedad.

However, according to AS, the most encouraging development involved Militao and Endrick, who worked on an adjacent pitch while the rest of the squad trained together.

Making progress in recovery. (Photo by David Balogh/Getty Images)

The two Brazilians completed a physical conditioning circuit before working with the ball. Both had already combined gym work with outdoor exercises during Friday’s session, although Militao has been working with the ball for some time.

The development represents another positive step in their respective recoveries, even though neither is expected to be available for the Malaga match.

But the step forward indicates that both Endrick and Militao are closing in on their return.

Manager Jose Mourinho could have the young forward, who is recovering from a muscle issue, back next week, although the defender, who had to undergo surgery last season, is likely to make his comeback after the international break.

Militao making good progress. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

The rest of Real Madrid’s injured players have been following a similar progression, gradually increasing their workload outside the main group.

Asencio and Mendy appear to be approaching a return to team training, with the French defender already having begun running on the Valdebebas pitch.

The club will continue to monitor the players’ progress without rushing their recoveries, particularly with a demanding run of fixtures approaching. Rodrygo remains a long-term absentee.

Interestingly, the session also featured a familiar face in Sergio Ramos.

The former Real Madrid captain, currently without a club after finishing his spell in Mexican football, visited Valdebebas, watched the training session and greeted several former teammates and staff members.