Bellingham and Tchouameni Return for Real Madrid’s Champions League Opener

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed on Monday that midfielders Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni are back from injury as the team prepares to defend their Champions League title. The 15-time record winners will face German side Stuttgart on Tuesday at the Santiago Bernabeu, and the return of England’s Bellingham and France’s Tchouameni provides a significant boost for Los Blancos.

Although defender Eder Militao did not participate in training on Monday, Ancelotti reassured that the Brazilian would be ready for the match. “Bellingham is fine, as is Tchouameni, and Militao will be ready tomorrow, even though he didn’t train today because he needed an extra day to recover,” said Ancelotti. “It’s great to have two key players back, but unfortunately, we lost another important player in Brahim Diaz.”

Bellingham, who started the season in a more defensive midfield role compared to last year, had been sidelined since August with a calf injury, missing four La Liga matches. His return is highly anticipated, both for his footballing skills and his influence beyond the pitch. “It’s fantastic news,” said teammate Dani Carvajal. “Having him back in the squad is great for us, and we rely on him.”

Bellingham played a pivotal role last season, helping Madrid reach the Champions League final at Wembley, where they triumphed over his former club, Borussia Dortmund. Ancelotti emphasized that his team remains as motivated as ever to compete for the title again this year.

“We’re just as eager as always,” Ancelotti added. “This competition is special for Real Madrid, and we will do our best to compete until the very end.”