Cristiano Ronaldo completed Monday's training session with Real Madrid as he stepped up his bid to be fit for Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second leg against Manchester City.
Ronaldo sat out last week’s goalless draw at the Etihad Stadium with a thigh injury which also kept him out of Saturday’s 1-0 Primera Division win at Real Sociedad.
However, the Portugal captain was back in training on Sunday, participating with his team-mates for the first half before working individually for the remainder, and he was able to take a full part in Monday’s session, the Spanish giants reported on their website.
While the news about Ronaldo looks promising for Madrid, it is less clear whether his fellow forward Karim Benzema will be able to feature against City.
The France international was replaced at half-time in the first leg against City with a hamstring problem and he was limited to running apart from the rest of the group on Monday.
Madrid midfielder Casemiro, meanwhile, worked inside after picking up a knock against Sociedad.
Striker Kelechi Iheanacho has admitted City will head to Real Madrid with their confidence damaged by Sunday’s 4-2 Premier League defeat at Southampton.
Nigeria hitman Iheanacho struck twice as City's sole positive in a bleak south coast thumping at the hands of Ronald Koeman's Saints, for whom Sadio Mane scored a hat-trick.
The 19-year-old hopes to have earned a start on Wednesday night, but admitted Manuel Pellegrini’s side saw their preparations dented in defeat at Saints.
“This was not good preparation, this game didn’t give us enough confidence but we’ll put it behind us as soon as we leave here and focus on the game on Wednesday,” said Iheanacho.
“We need to put it behind us, it’s gone, it’s not going to come back.
“So many things went wrong in the game, we lost so many balls and we didn’t defend well.
“We lost so we’re not happy, but we’ll put it behind us and come back stronger.”
Iheanacho took his Premier League goals tally to seven for his breakthrough campaign with his brace at Southampton, a return he hopes can convince Pellegrini to start him at the Bernabeu on Wednesday.
Iheanacho accepts the visitors will face a tough task in midweek.
Pellegrini admitted making eight changes for Sunday’s Southampton defeat has jeopardised the Etihad outfit’s bid for a top-four Premier League finish, and Iheanacho admitted City have heaped pressure on themselves to qualify for next term’s Champions League.
“I think I’m working hard towards it, I’ll keep working hard, nothing is enough in football,” Iheanacho told the club’s website.
“So I’ll keep working hard to build confidence.
“I’m pleased with my performance, getting goals in the Premier League, and I’m happy coming through to the first team this season, working hard to get more goals for them and help them in Europe.
“It was two great goals for me and the team today, but unfortunately we lost so the goals don’t mean anything.
“But we’ll keep our heads down and focus on the next games.
“We have two games left now, we should keep focused and try to win the two games to qualify for the Champions League for next season.”
