Van der Vaart back for Real

Rafael van der Vaart has been recalled to the Real Madrid squad for tomorrow’s Champions League last-16 first leg against Liverpool at the Bernabeu.

The Dutch playmaker is the only addition to the 18-man squad that thrashed Real Betis 6-1 in the Primera Liga at the weekend, with Van der Vaart’s compatriot Klaas Jan Huntelaar the man to drop out.

Huntelaar, who scored twice against Betis, is ineligible to play in the Champions League as Madrid were only able to register one of their two winter signings who had already played in Europe this season, and the former Ajax man missed out in favour of ex-Portsmouth midfielder Lassana Diarra.

Joining Huntelaar on the sidelines are Royston Drenthe, Julien Faubert, Dani Parejo, Michel Salgado and Javi Garcia, as well as long-term injury victims Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Ruben De La Red and Mahamadou Diarra.