Carlo Ancelotti has returned a negative Covid-19 test and will therefore take charge of Real Madrid for the Uefa Champions League quarter-final first leg match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. PA
Carlo Ancelotti has returned a negative Covid-19 test and will therefore take charge of Real Madrid for the Uefa Champions League quarter-final first leg match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. PA
Carlo Ancelotti has returned a negative Covid-19 test and will therefore take charge of Real Madrid for the Uefa Champions League quarter-final first leg match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. PA
Carlo Ancelotti has returned a negative Covid-19 test and will therefore take charge of Real Madrid for the Uefa Champions League quarter-final first leg match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. PA

Carlo Ancelotti to lead Real Madrid against Chelsea after negative Covid-19 test


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Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti will be in the dugout for his team's Uefa Champions League quarter-final first leg against Chelsea on Wednesday after testing negative for Covid-19.

Ancelotti tested positive on March 30 and did not travel to London with the squad having also missed Saturday's 2-1 La Liga win over Celta Vigo.

“Real Madrid CF is pleased to announce that our coach Carlo Ancelotti has returned a negative result for Covid-19, and will therefore travel to London this morning to join up with the first team,” the club said in a statement.

Real, who have won the Champions League a record 13 times, will be looking for revenge against Chelsea who beat them 3-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals last season.

Ancelotti is fondly remembered at Stamford Bridge for his two-year spell as Chelsea manager between 2009 and 2011. The Italian led the club to the Premier League and FA Cup double in his first season, before getting sacked at the end of his second year after the club finished runners-up.

In his second stint as Real Madrid manager, Ancelotti led the club to the 2014 Champions League title first time round, and looks on course for his first La Liga crown with Los Blancos eight-points clear at the top of the standings. Should they convert their advantage, Ancelotti will become the first manager to win league titles in all five of Europe's big leagues.

Real Madrid train for Chelsea clash

  • Real Madrid's Gareth Bale smiles during a training session at Stamford Bridge ahead of Wednesday's Champions League first-leg quarterfinal against Chelsea. AP
    Real Madrid's Gareth Bale smiles during a training session at Stamford Bridge ahead of Wednesday's Champions League first-leg quarterfinal against Chelsea. AP
  • Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Luka Modric during training. Action Images
    Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Luka Modric during training. Action Images
  • Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, centre, warms up with team-mates. AP
    Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, centre, warms up with team-mates. AP
  • Real Madrid's Marcelo and Rodrygo during training. Action Images
    Real Madrid's Marcelo and Rodrygo during training. Action Images
  • Toni Kroos and Marco Asensio during training. Action Images
    Toni Kroos and Marco Asensio during training. Action Images
  • Real Madrid's players warm up during a training session at Stamford Bridge. AP
    Real Madrid's players warm up during a training session at Stamford Bridge. AP
  • Real Madrid's Marcelo controls the ball. AP
    Real Madrid's Marcelo controls the ball. AP
  • Real Madrid's Brazilian defender Marcelo takes part in a training session. AFP
    Real Madrid's Brazilian defender Marcelo takes part in a training session. AFP
  • Madrid's German midfielder Toni Kroos. AFP
    Madrid's German midfielder Toni Kroos. AFP
  • Real Madrid's players gather together at Stamford Bridge. AP
    Real Madrid's players gather together at Stamford Bridge. AP
  • Real Madrid's Brazilian defender Marcelo enjoys the session. AFP
    Real Madrid's Brazilian defender Marcelo enjoys the session. AFP
  • Real Madrid's Welsh striker Gareth Bale on the run. AFP
    Real Madrid's Welsh striker Gareth Bale on the run. AFP
  • Marcelo and Vinicius Junior during training. Action Images
    Marcelo and Vinicius Junior during training. Action Images
  • Gareth Bale and Andriy Lunin during trainning. Action Images
    Gareth Bale and Andriy Lunin during trainning. Action Images
  • Luka Modric and Marcelo during the training session. PA
    Luka Modric and Marcelo during the training session. PA
Updated: April 06, 2022, 10:15 AM