Real Madrid were handed a fitness boost for Wednesday's Champions League semifinal second leg against Juventus as Toni Kroos returned to training on Monday,
though Gareth Bale was restricted to individual gym work.
Germany international Kroos was substituted after 25 minutes of Saturday's 2-2 draw against Valencia, leaving the pitch appearing to hold his thigh.
Kroos played down fears he could miss Wednesday's Bernabeu clash against Juve by posting an Instagram message on Sunday with the accompanying caption: "Thank you for your kind messages! I've just been through the examination. Don't worry. Let's focus on Wednesday!"
Real confirmed on their official website on Monday that the 25-year-old trained with his teammates for the first half of Monday's morning session, though Bale joined Luka Modric and Sami Khedira in the gym.Karim Benzema completed the full training session as he continues his comeback from injury, with Real needing to overturn a 2-1 first-leg defeat against the Serie A champions.
Los Blancos coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Sunday: "Kroos had a bang on hip, we will weigh it up tomorrow. It does not seem to be a muscular problem, so we are pretty positive.
"With Benzema we are positive too, he had just a small issue, but should be able to play on Wednesday. [Raphael] Varane had a fever last night, so was tired this morning, but he should be able to train tomorrow."
The Juventus tie is crucial for Ancelotti's hopes of silverware given that Real's draw with Valencia means Barcelona need one win from their two remaining games to secure the Primera Division title.Pep Guardiola has said patience will be key if Bayern Munich are to overturn their 3-0 first-leg deficit in the Champions League semifinal against Barcelona on Tuesday.
Bayern were well beaten on Guardiola's return to the Camp Nou, but they have shown they are capable of big wins in Europe, having racked up 7-0 and 6-1 victories over Shakhtar Donetsk and Porto in their last two home games in the competition.
Guardiola said it would be difficult to replicate those results against Barca but was hoping...Paul Pogba has his sights set on the Champions League final after making his return from injury at the weekend just in time to be considered for the second leg of Juventus' Champions League semifinal against Real Madrid this Wednesday.Pogba lasted 63 minutes of Juve's 1-1 draw with Cagliari on Saturday having spent 52 days out with a thigh injury he picked up during Juve's Champions League clash with Borussia DortmundWhile it's unrealistic to believe Bayern Munich will overturn a three-goal deficit to reach a dream Berlin final, they can still salvage some self-respect this week by beating Barcelona in the Champions League semifinal return leg in the Allianz Arena.
Barcelona have not won in four visits to the Bavarian capital, and Thomas Muller scored a brace on their last semifinal trip to Munich in 2013, when Jupp Heynckes' eventual champions thumped Barca 4-0 on their way to the title at Wembley. Following...
Monday, June 8, 2015
