- Luka Modric and Toni Kroos passed fit to travel to Paris with Real Madrid’s team
- Real Madrid take a 3-1 lead into the Champions League round of 16 second leg
- Zinedine Zidane may need to win another European title to salvage their season
Luka Modric and Toni Kroos have been included in Real Madrid’s squad to face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League after overcoming respective injuries in the nick of time.
The midfield duo have been absent from Real Madrid’s midfield for recent La Liga games against Real Betis, Espanyol and Getafe and were unable to participate in training as recently as Friday.
But Kroos (knee) and Modric (hamstring) have been passed fit to travel to the French capital with Zinedine Zidane’s squad ahead of Tuesday’s Round of 16 second leg tie at Parc des Princes.
Toni Kroos has recovered from a knee strain in time to face Paris Saint-Germain this Tuesday
Luka Modric will also return to the team for the Champions League round of 16 second leg
It comes as a significant boost for the title holders, who find themselves in desperate need of yet another European crown after a forgettable domestic campaign. Already 15 points behind Barcelona, the Champions League is their last chance of silverware.
Madrid are firm favourites to make it into the quarter-finals after sealing a 3-1 victory in the first leg and are further aided by the fact that Neymar is out with a broken metatarsal.
However, they will be taking little for granted against a dangerous opponent and the captain Sergio Ramos underlined the importance of staying focused in Tuesday’s tie.
Real Madrid named both Modric and Kroos in their squad to travel to Paris this week
Sergio Ramos underlined the importance of not taking their 3-1 aggregate lead for granted
Ramos told the club’s official website: ‘We already know what the Champions League means to us.
‘We played a good game in the first leg and now we are going to Paris to try to play with the same seriousness. We know it’s going to be complicated, but that is our goal.
‘We expect to face a very tough team in front of us and we will have to have the maximum concentration, play like we did here at home and will try to use our weapons to get through.’