Real Madrid Prepares for Copa del Rey Semifinal Against Real Sociedad, Valverde May Be Rested Again

On February 25, it was reported that at 4:30 AM Beijing time on February 27, Real Madrid will face Real Sociedad in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals. According to AS, Real Madrid may rest Uruguayan midfielder Federico Valverde once again.

After defeating Girona in their last La Liga match, Real Madrid has begun preparations for the Copa del Rey semifinal this week. Coach Carlo Ancelotti scheduled a rest day for the league's key players during Monday's training, and Valverde, who was given a rest in the match against Girona, also continued to miss training.

AS noted that Valverde has been under heavy match load this season, often playing through injuries, and even temporarily filled in as a right-back when Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vázquez were unavailable. The coaching staff is now paying close attention to his physical condition. With Vázquez recovering from a muscle injury and Aurélien Tchouaméni returning to his position, Valverde had the opportunity to rotate in the last league match.

Sources within the Real Madrid locker room revealed that Ancelotti is considering allowing Valverde to rest again this week. In Monday’s training, Valverde stayed indoors with the league's main players for recovery treatment, using physical therapy to relax his leg muscles.

Additionally, Jude Bellingham, who missed the match against Girona due to suspension and will also miss the weekend's match against Real Betis, has confirmed his return for the Copa del Rey. He participated in high-intensity training with Andriy Lunin, Fran García, Antonio Rüdiger, Dani Ceballos, Eduardo Camavinga, Álvaro Rodríguez, and Endrick, which included strength training in the gym and specialized drills on the field.