Dani Ceballos’s unexpected recovery could offer Carlo Ancelotti a timely midfield boost ahead of Real Madrid’s uphill second leg against Arsenal.
Just days ago, Real Madrid had all but ruled Dani Ceballos out of Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final at the Santiago Bernabéu, with internal sources describing his return as “almost impossible.”
Now, not only has he returned to full training, he will undergo a final assessment today that could see him back in the squad.
The news reflects a sharp turnaround in Ceballos’s recovery from a significant injury sustained during the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final against Real Sociedad.
Suffering a hamstring problem in his left leg, he was initially expected to be out for seven-to-eight weeks. Thursday marked “exactly five weeks” since the injury, and yet Ceballos has already completed multiple training sessions with the group.
As reported by Marca, “Ceballos completed the session with the group and today passes a definitive test to see if he can travel to Vitoria for the league match against Alavés.”
“Depending on how he feels, Ancelotti and his staff will decide whether to include him in the squad or keep him for Arsenal.”
At the time of his injury, Marca report that Ceballos had quietly become central to Madrid’s midfield dynamics. His positioning between the back line and Ancelotti’s preferred attacking quartet gave the team its structural “glue”, a role that had grown more prominent in the weeks leading up to his absence.
His loss, they write, was a clear setback. Now, his return, should it be confirmed, would come when Madrid are without Eduardo Camavinga (suspended) while there are doubts over Federico Valverde’s availability after he finished the first leg in visible discomfort.
There is no guarantee Ceballos will start, but the mere fact that he is in contention is a significant development for Madrid, who must overturn a 3–0 deficit against an Arsenal side that is tactically disciplined and physically imposing.
Even a late cameo could matter against a club where Ceballos spent two underwhelming seasons. Ancelotti has leaned on the former Arsenal loanee in high-pressure moments before, trusting his ability to control the pace of the game. With Luka Modrić, now 39, stretched by the demands of the first leg, and Aurélien Tchouaméni only just returning from suspension, Ceballos could get the nod, although it seems more likely he will be used from the bench.
Whether Ceballos plays on Sunday against Alavés or is kept back for Wednesday, the fact that he’s now in contention is a boost for Madrid.