Vinicius Junior will return to the pitch in a game against Atlanta in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed the news of the star player coming to action earlier than expected.
The Brazilian winger had suffered a hamstring injury in November with least expectation of him to start before the Intercontinental Cup final on December 18.
However, Vinicius appeared for training on Friday and would be fit to play from next week. But, he will be missing Real Madrid’s Saturday La Liga away game against Girona.
“Vinicius has recovered from his injury very well, he will not be ready for tomorrow but he will be for the next Champions League game,” Ancelotti told a news conference Friday.
Madrid is upbeat on Vinicius’ return after having suffered three defeats in its opening five European matches. The holders sit 24th in the Champions League group table.
Real Madrid drew attention lately due the misfiring superstar striker Kylian Mbappe after his arrival from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.
The French international missed penalties in defeats against Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao in the past fortnight as his struggles in the Spanish club continue.
Also Read: FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Draw In Full, Groups, Format
Champions League 2024-25: Points Table
| Position | Team
| Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points |
| 1 | Liverpool | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | +11 | 15 |
| 2 | Inter Milan | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | +7 | 13 |
| 3 | Barcelona | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 5 | +13 | 12 |
| 4 | Borussia Dortmund | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 6 | +10 | 12 |
| 5 | Atalanta | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 1 | +10 | 11 |
| 6 | Bayer Leverkusen | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 5 | +6 | 10 |
| 7 | Arsenal | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 2 | +6 | 10 |
| 8 | Monaco | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 7 | +5 | 10 |
| 9 | Aston Villa | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 10 |
| 10 | Sporting Lisbon | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 7 | +3 | 10 |
| 11 | Brest | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 10 |
| 12 | Lille | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 10 |
| 13 | Bayern Munich | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 7 | +5 | 9 |
| 14 | Benfica | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 7 | +3 | 9 |
| 15 | Atletico Madrid | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 9 | +2 | 9 |
| 16 | AC Milan | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 8 | +2 | 9 |
| 17 | Manchester City | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 7 | +6 | 8 |
| 18 | PSV Eindhoven | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 7 | +3 | 8 |
| 19 | Juventus | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 8 |
| 20 | Celtic | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 8 |
| 21 | Feyenoord | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 13 | -3 | 7 |
| 22 | Club Brugge | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 7 |
| 23 | Dinamo Zagreb | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 15 | -5 | 7 |
| 24 | Real Madrid | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 6 |
| 25 | Paris Saint-Germain | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 4 |
| 26 | Shakhtar Donetsk | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 | -4 | 4 |
| 27 | Stuttgart | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 11 | -7 | 4 |
| 28 | Sparta Prague | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 14 | -9 | 4 |
| 29 | Sturm Graz | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 3 |
| 30 | Girona | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 3 |
| 31 | Crvena Zvezda | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 17 | -8 | 3 |
| 32 | Red Bull Salzburg | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 15 | -12 | 3 |
| 33 | Bologna | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 7 | -6 | 1 |
| 34 | RB Leipzig | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 10 | -6 | 0 |
| 35 | SK Slovan Bratislava | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 18 | -14 | 0 |
| 36 | BSC Young Boys Bern | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 17 | -15 | 0 |
