Real Madrid heavyweight set to return from injury against Pachuca – report | OneFootball

Real Madrid got the Xabi Alonso era underway on Wednesday night with a 1-1 draw against Al-Hilal in the FIFA Club World Cup.

The Merengues went into the game with both of their summer signings – Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen – making their debuts.

However, Alonso was without a host of important players as Kylian Mbappe missed out due to a flu while the likes of Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, David Alaba, Eduardo Camavinga, and Antonio Rudiger did not feature as they are still recovering from their injuries.

Rudiger to return soon

But there is some good news on the horizon as MARCA reports that Rudiger is all set to return for Real Madrid’s next game against Pachuca.

The Merengues are set to take on the Mexican outfit in their second Group H game of the Club World Cup on Sunday night. And the belief is that Rudiger will be fit and ready to play in time for that game.

Set to return imminently. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

The 32-year-old German international had been dealing with a knee issue for a good part of the last year but had been playing through the pain barrier.

However, after the Copa del Rey final defeat, when he was handed an extended ban, Rudiger and Real Madrid decided for him to undergo surgery to address the problem.

Manager Alonso spoke about the defender’s situation before the Al-Hilal game, saying:

“Rudiger made a tremendous recovery; he’s the first, the idea is that he’ll probably be in the second game. The others need a little more time.”

Now, everything points towards Rudiger making his comeback for Real Madrid in the next game against Pachuca.

It is, however, unlikely that he will be thrown into the starting lineup right away, with Alonso expected to ease the veteran central defender back into action.