Iker Casillas to return to Real Madrid first team

Real Madrid and Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas is set to make his first competitive start for the club since January when the Galacticos take on Galatasaray in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti prefers Diego Lopez to Casillas in the Madrid first team but it appears the Italian boss will be giving Casillas a chance in the starting XI this week.


On leaving out Casillas, Ancelotti said: "It's hard, because it's always hard to leave a player on the bench, and it's all the more so when the player is called Iker Casillas, but not for the history that he represents. History never gives you the chance to play.


"During my last year as a player at AC Milan, I was part of the furniture at the club, but a younger player came in, with enthusiasm and talent, and he played in my place. It was Demetrio Albertini. Casillas is a very good goalkeeper, but I chose Diego Lopez because he started the pre-season 15 days before him and he's in good shape. It's my decision."