Real Madrid missing three players for Valencia clash

There is positive news on the injury front ahead of the contest, though, with both Jude Bellingham and Joselu back in the squad after recovering from ankle problems.

Bellingham has missed Real Madrid's three matches due to the issue that he picked up against Girona, while Joselu has been absent from the team's last two games.

Both players are back in the squad for the trip to Valencia, while there are also returns for Dani Carvajal and Eduardo Camavinga, who were suspended for the clash with Sevilla last weekend.

"Carvajal, Camavinga, Joselu, Bellingham are back. The squad is more complete," Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti told reporters during his pre-match press conference.

"He's (Bellingham) 100%, everything he's done and needed to do individually is fine, he's comfortable with his ankle, he's at full strength, he's going to play."

Ancelotti also provided a positive injury update on Courtois and Militao, with the pair potentially both returning from long-term knee injuries by the end of April.

"The date has not been set. But we have to take advantage of the international break and then the mini-break for the Copa del Rey. At that time they will do some work with the team. After 14 April, after Mallorca, they could be back," said the Italian on Friday.

Alaba, though, is out for the remainder of the campaign due to the ACL injury that he suffered in December.

Real Madrid are currently top of the La Liga table, six points ahead of second-placed Girona, while they sit eight clear of Barcelona in third.

"Real Madrid have always found it difficult to win there, it's a difficult ground and the opposition are doing well. We need to be at our best," said Ancelotti ahead of the clash with Valencia.

"They are going to be very important points, at this point in the season. All the games have a greater importance."

Real Madrid will welcome RB Leipzig to Bernabeu for the second leg of their last-16 Champions League clash next week, holding a 1-0 advantage from the first leg in Germany on February 13.

Real Madrid squad vs. Valencia:

Lunin, Kepa, Fran; Carvajal, Nacho, Vazquez, F Garcia, Rudiger, Mendy; Bellingham, Kroos, Modric, Camavinga, Valverde, Tchouameni, Ceballos, Guler; Vinicius, Rodrygo, Joselu, Brahim