Real Madrid should have forward Gareth Bale back after
injury for Saturday's La Liga game at Sevilla, coach Carlo Ancelotti said on
Friday.
The Wales winger has been sidelined by a calf injury for a
couple of weeks and returns for what is probably the toughest of Real's four
remaining games in Spain's top flight.
Leaders Barcelona, who visit bottom side Cordoba earlier on
Saturday, are two points ahead of second-placed Real, with champions Atletico
Madrid seven points further back in third before their game at home to Athletic
Bilbao.
"Gareth Bale has been training with the rest of the
squad and I think he will be available for the match against Sevilla,"
Ancelotti told a news conference.
"Gareth is fresher than some of the others because he
has rested and he will help us at an important stage of the season," added
the Italian, who is also waiting on the fitness of Real'sFrance striker Karim Benzema.
Benzema has not featured since hurting a knee in last
month's Champions League quarterfinal, first leg at Atletico Madrid.
"We are not going to take any risks, it's not the last
match of the season," Ancelotti said.
"It could be that they are not able to play the whole
90 minutes but if there is any risk we will not gamble."
Ancelotti will be keen to have both forwards back and at
full fitness as Real, the holders, play their Champions League semifinal, first
leg at Juventus on Tuesday, with the return leg the following week.
Real are chasing a record-extending 11th European crown
after finally winning their 10th last term after more than a decade of failed
attempts.
Ancelotti defended Real's Portugal forward Cristiano
Ronaldo, who has hit a lean patch in recent matches and has scored only one
goal in their last five games.
"He has scored all these goals because he has
character," Ancelotti said.
"Cristiano is not happy with what he is doing, he wants
to improve and that's why he scores so many goals."
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