Injured Real Madrid star rejoins group training, defender hopeful of return vs Barcelona | OneFootball

Following their elimination from the UEFA Champions League earlier this week, Real Madrid players resumed training today.

The Spanish capital giants will now focus their energies on retaining the La Liga title and winning the Copa del Rey, where they take on Barcelona in the finals on April 26.

Andriy Lunin back in training

Before that, though, Real Madrid have two La Liga games to take care of, starting with Sunday’s visit of Athletic Club to the Santiago Bernabeu.

And, according to journalist Melchor Ruiz of COPE, leading up to the game, Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin has returned to group training today.

The 26-year-old shot-stopper suffered a muscle injury during the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Real Sociedad earlier this month and has since missed four games in all competitions.

Now, though, Lunin has seemingly recovered from the problem and has rejoined the training session with the group.

What will now be interesting to see is whether Carlo Ancelotti puts the Ukrainian international in goal for the Copa del Rey final vs Barcelona, given that he has been the designated cup keeper this season, or replaces him with regular first choice Thibaut Courtois.

Ferland Mendy hopeful of cup final return

Mendy wants to return in time for the cup final. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

Furthermore, the report adds that defender Ferland Mendy is still working on his recovery and is hopeful of making it back in time for the cup final against Barça.

The French left-back has been out since getting injured in the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16 against Atletico Madrid.

There was hope that he could be back in time to face Arsenal in the competition, but things did not turn out that way, forcing Ancelotti to deploy David Alaba at left-back.

Mendy’s recovery has progressed a little slower than initially anticipated. For now, his return against Athletic Club this weekend seems unlikely but the defender hopes to be back against Barcelona next week.