Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is confident that the injured Jude Bellingham will play in the Champions League at RB Leipzig. "He has a sprained ankle. We hope he'll be fit for Tuesday," Ancelotti said of the England international. The ex-Dortmund player had to be substituted injured on Saturday in the 4:0 (1:0) win against surprise team FC Girona in the Primera División and will be examined on Sunday. He had previously scored two goals.
Bellingham has had a strong season since moving to Spain from BVB in the summer. "The way he plays reminds me of Zidane, because of his exceptional qualities on the ball," Ancelotti said of the 20-year-old, referring to former Real professional and coach Zinedine Zidane. "Zidane was perhaps better technically, but Bellingham combines that with the way he goes into the penalty area. There are few players in the world who can make a move like that before the first goal."
The Spanish record champions continue to have major injury worries ahead of the first leg of the round of 16 in the Premier League in Leipzig. The Whites were missing four central defenders against Girona. International Antonio Rüdiger will have to take a longer break due to a muscle injury in his left thigh; according to the Spanish media, he should return at the end of February.
"He took a knock against Getafe," explained Ancelotti. "It resulted in a bruise that caused a kind of tear". The 30-year-old tried, but had problems changing direction. He will certainly miss Leipzig.
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