Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that David Alaba is set to make his return to the squad after a 380-day injury absence. Alaba suffered a cruciate ligament tear on December 18, 2023, and has been diligently working on his recovery ever since. Ancelotti anticipates Alaba will be available for selection by January 20, bringing a boost to the team’s defensive line as they aim for a rotation system to keep players fresh throughout the season.
When asked about potential signings during the January transfer window, Ancelotti was cautious, stating, “January signings? It’s not easy to talk about this topic now. We will see.” Real Madrid kick off 2025 with a crucial match against Valencia on Friday night, a fixture that could set the tone for the rest of their season.
Meanwhile, in Italy, Atalanta is gearing up to rely heavily on Ademola Lookman as they face Inter Milan in the semi-final of the Supercoppa. The match is scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday night. Lookman has been in impressive form this season, scoring 11 goals and providing six assists in 20 appearances across all competitions, playing a key role in Gian Piero Gasperini’s squad.
This semi-final marks Atalanta’s first game of the new year, and they’ll be looking to improve upon their 4-0 defeat to Inter Milan from their earlier encounter in September. In the other semi-final, longtime rivals Juventus and AC Milan will face off in what promises to be a thrilling matchup.
