Valencia boosted by Copete and Ugrinic ahead of Real Madrid visit | OneFootball

With 16 La Liga matches left and survival the priority, Valencia host Real Madrid at Mestalla on Sunday at 21:00. According to Superdeporte, the penultimate training session brought good news as José Copete and Filip Ugrinic worked with the group.

Both had gone off with physical issues during Thursday’s cup tie against Athletic Club, yet they joined the regenerative session for the starters and there is optimism they can recover in time.

Copete has been managing a back problem, even requiring an injection, and was replaced on 59 minutes of the Copa del Rey quarter-final, with César Tárrega partnering Eray Cömert. If his progress holds, Carlos Corberán could choose from four centre-backs, Copete, Tárrega, Cömert and Unai Núñez, who is still awaiting his debut.

Ugrinic’s workload has been intense and he was withdrawn on 89 minutes, when debutant Guido Rodríguez came on. Valencia’s presence in the opposition half waned after the break and especially once he left the pitch.

Full-back Thierry Rendall trained on the grass with the group of non-starters, though the medical and coaching staff remain cautious over his condition. He has a left hamstring injury sustained against Elche, with a recovery timeframe of more than a month, so he is not yet ready to return.

The one setback was B-team defender Rubén Iranzo, who left the session with knee pain.

Source: Superdeporte