Real Madrid look set to have both Thibaut Courtois and Antonio Rudiger available for Wednesday night’s huge Champions League last-16 second-leg decider against Atletico Madrid.

First-choice goalkeeper Courtois and key defender Rudiger were both seen back in training on Monday, having been absent for Sunday’s 2-1 home win over Rayo Vallecano that took them up to second in LaLiga and above their city rivals, who were stunned by a late double away at Getafe after Angel Correa’s sending off to miss the chance to go top after leaders Barcelona’s meeting with Osasuna was postponed following the death of first-team doctor Carles Minarro Garcia.

Rudiger was suffering from flu, while Courtois was dealing with what manager Carlo Ancelotti described as a “small problem”.

However, Ancelotti was optimistic that both would be fine for the second leg against Atletico away at Metropolitano Stadium, while he also insisted that Jude Bellingham’s late withdrawal against Vallecano was not injury-related, meaning he will keep his place in the side having missed last week’s narrow 2-1 win over Atleti at the Santiago Bernabeu through suspension.

That could see Brahim Diaz drop to the bench despite his stylish winning goal in the first leg that came after Rodrygo and Julian Alvarez had exchanged superb first-half strikes, though Eduardo Camavinga could also be a candidate to come out of the XI as Ancelotti seeks to strike the right balance. Brahim and Bellingham together would seem a very attacking choice for what should be another tight game with massive stakes.

Otherwise it should be more or less the same team on Wednesday as named for the first leg, with Raul Asencio preferred to David Alaba alongside Rudiger again in defence and Federico Valverde continuing at right-back after his impressive showing there last week on his return from a knock. Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Dani Ceballos and Jesus Vallejo all remain sidelined.

The likes of Valverde, Camavinga, Brahim and Ferland Mendy were all named on the bench at the weekend as Lucas Vazquez, Alaba, Fran Garcia and Luka Modric started and Andriy Lunin deputised for Courtois in goal.

As for Atletico, their preparations for the second leg have been difficult to say the least, with Clement Lenglet withdrawn ahead of kick-off against Getafe with a knock and midfield regular Rodrigo De Paul limping off at half-time.

It has been reported that both players should still be fit to face Los Blancos, with Robin Le Normand and potentially Conor Gallagher in line for starts if not.

Le Normand started against Getafe after Lenglet pulled out in the warm-up, with Pablo Barrios coming on for De Paul having initially been rested with the versatile Marcos Llorente moving into midfield and Nahuel Molina getting the nod at right-back.

Llorente could start in midfield again alongside Barrios if De Paul is not ready and Diego Simeone does not promote Gallagher, with Molina potentially keeping his spot in defence in that scenario.

Cesar Azpilicueta was back on the bench at the weekend after a knock, though captain Koke remains out. Correa is available despite now serving a domestic ban for his dismissal at Getafe that came when his yellow card for a challenge on Djene Dakonam was upgraded to red following a VAR review, leading to an angry reaction from the Argentine forward that could yet land him a longer suspension.

Atletico melted down thereafter despite Alexander Sorloth’s penalty as Mauro Arambarri struck a dramatic late brace.

Predicted Atletico XI: Oblak, Llorente, Gimenez, Lenglet, Galan, De Paul, Barrios, Lino, Simeone, Griezmann, Alvarez

Injured: Koke

Doubts: Lenglet, De Paul

Predicted Real Madrid XI: Courtois, Valverde, Asencio, Rudiger, Mendy, Tchouameni, Camavinga, Bellingham, Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius Jr

Injured: Carvajal, Militao, Ceballos, Vallejo

Time and date: 8pm GMT on Wednesday March 12, 2025

Venue: Metropolitano Stadium

How to watch: TNT Sports