Haaland returns ahead of the big clash against Real Madrid.

Haaland returns ahead of the big clash against Real Madrid.

Manchester City received positive news ahead of their Champions League clash with Real Madrid as Erling Haaland returned to training with the rest of the team. The Norwegian striker had previously missed the FA Cup match against Newcastle last weekend due to injury.

According to AS , Haaland participated fully in Manchester City's training session before their flight to Madrid. This opens up the possibility of him featuring in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 match at the Bernabeu on March 12th. The presence of their star striker would clearly be a major boost for Pep Guardiola's team.

However, Haaland's chances of starting are still uncertain. Guardiola is usually cautious with players who have just recovered from injury. The Spanish strategist tends to bring them back gradually to avoid the risk of recurrence.

In fact, Haaland was in a similar situation during a previous away match at the Bernabeu. At that time, he was also closely monitored after an injury and was not included in the starting lineup.

Besides Haaland's physical condition, the form of other attacking players also influences Guardiola's selection. Omar Marmoush and Antoine Semenyo have been scoring well recently, making their continued chances of starting quite high.

If that scenario unfolds, Haaland will most likely start the match on the bench. However, the Norwegian forward could still be an important option in the second half, especially when Manchester City need to increase pressure on Real Madrid's defense.

Whether starting or coming off the bench, Haaland's return still makes Real Madrid wary. Simply his inclusion in the matchday squad is enough to force the home team's defense to prepare more thoroughly for the big match at the Bernabéu.