Modric, Vazquez return for Real ahead of Shakhtar clash

Madrid, Oct 4 (EFE).- Carlo Ancelotti will be able to call on Croatian midfield maestro Luka Modric and Spain international right-winger Lucas Vázquez for the third matchday of the Champions League as Real Madrid takes on Shakhtar Donetsk.

Real host the Ukrainian side after securing maximum points from their first two games in Group F, in which they have scored five and conceded none.

Shakhtar arrive in the Spanish capital off the back of a 1-1 home draw to Celtic and an impressive 4-1 away victory against RB Leipzig that has them in second place in the group.

While the Italian coach will be without stalwart Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Dani Ceballos through injury, Modric has recovered from a muscular issue which prevented him from playing on Sunday against Osasuna after the veteran had played in both his national team’s Nations League matches the previous week.

Meanwhile, Lucas Vázquez has overcome the muscular problem he suffered in the league match against Mallorca on September 11.

Goalkeeper Lucas Cañizares remains in the matchday squad because Courtois will miss his second consecutive match with nerve pain.

While Ancelotti does not expect him to return in time for this weekend’s LaLiga match against local rivals Getafe, the Italian said the Belgian shot stopper was “much better” after receiving treatment on Monday.

“Clearly we have doubts about the next game against Getafe, but it’s possible that next week he can train and be ready for the return match against Shakhtar (next Tuesday) or obviously the Clasico (against Barcelona on 16 October),” Ancelotti said. EFE

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