Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 7y

Real Madrid's Raphael Varane, Pepe back in training ahead of Atletico tie

Real Madrid centre-backs Raphael Varane and Pepe could both return to Zinedine Zidane's squad for the Champions League semifinal second leg against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday after resuming training on Tuesday.

Varane and Pepe have recovered from hamstring and rib issues respectively and could be involved at Atletico, who trail 3-0 from last week's first leg.

Nacho Fernandez or Danilo are set to fill in at right-back for Zidane's side at the Vicente Caldero in place of the injured Dani Carvajal.

"Nacho is a centre-half, but can play anywhere in defence and do very well," Zidane told a news confernece. "Pepe is very good, we will see if he is in the squad. Rafa has trained without any problems."

Zidane also said that Madrid will not get complacent at the Vicente Calderon on Wednesday, despite going into the game with a 3-0 advantage and having beaten Atletico in two of the last three Champions League finals.

"We have won two Champions League finals [against Atletico in 2014 and 2016], but that is in the past now, and does not mean it will happen tomorrow," Zidane said. "If we think like that, we would be mistaken. Tomorrow is a different game.

"They have their weapons, we have ours. We will stick to our path that has brought us here. Nothing will change. This is the end of the season, when everything is in play. We like that at this club. Each game is like a final, and tomorrow is another. We must give everything on the pitch."

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