Martin Ødegaard named in Real Madrid squad to face Almeria

Martin Ødegaard named in Real Madrid squad to face Almeria

Teenage star Martin Ødegaard has been named in a Real Madrid first-team squad for the first time ahead of Wednesday night's La Liga clash against Almeria.

The Norway international, 16, has yet to be involved in Carlo Ancelotti's first team plans since arriving at the club in January but he is set to get his first taste of the Bernabeu against the Andalusians.

The young star will be one of three Real Madrid Castilla players to be named in Ancelotti's squad owing to a packed treatment room and the Italian says two of them will be on the bench tomorrow night.

"Mayoral, Ødegaard and Llorente will all be in the squad list," said Ancelotti. "Two of them will be on the bench tomorrow night and will have a chance to be involved."

Ødegaard has only been involved with Zinedine Zidane's Castilla side so far in the Segunda Division B and has yet to shine in the third tier.

Ancelotti also confirmed that Keylor Navas will get another start in goal but there will be no Gareth Bale, who is set to return to training on Thursday, or Karim Benzema, who is expected to return to training at the weekend. Ancelotti said Bale should be involved against Sevilla on Saturday.

Madrid are big favourites to cruise to victory over Almeria but the Madrid coach is not taking Wednesday's visitors lightly. "Almeria's style has changed with their new coach," he acknowledged. "They are faster now and I think their last result was good. They are in good form and every team fighting to avoid relegation should be considered tricky."

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