Baumgartner returns to RB Leipzig squad for Real Madrid clash

Christoph Baumgartner has returned to the RB Leipzig squad in time for the Champions League match at Real Madrid. The 27-year-old Austrian has been included in the squad for the away fixture in Europe's premier competition after his long injury layoff.

Baumgartner suffered a torn thigh muscle in a pre-World Cup warm-up match against Tunisia on 1 June. The attacker underwent surgery and missed the start of the season for Die Roten Bullen as well as the World Cup. On Tuesday, he completed his first full team training session in over four months.

"Of course you want to be out there on the pitch and help," said Baumgartner. "Also because I have the feeling that I could help the team well in such a phase."

The return of the vice-captain comes at a key moment. RB Leipzig travel to Madrid on the back of a 6-1 defeat at Bayern Munich. In the Bundesliga, Marco Rose's side sit seventh with nine points, five points behind the leaders. Their last five matches have yielded three wins and two defeats.

Option from the bench

Against Real Madrid, Baumgartner is expected to start from the bench. His comeback is to be managed carefully, but his presence in the squad provides coach Rose with an additional attacking option. Last Bundesliga season, Baumgartner was the team's top scorer with 13 goals and nine assists.

His teammate Nicolas Seiwald stressed the need to look forward after the Bayern defeat. "It's no use tearing ourselves apart now," said the fellow Austrian international. "We have to learn from it and move on."

The team has scored 16 goals this season but has also conceded 11. Ahead of the clash in Madrid is also a 4-1 defeat at Como in the group stage. The next Bundesliga fixture is the home match against sixth-placed SV Elversberg on 24 October, which could bring key points in the standings. The current season's top scorer is Christopher Nkunku with four goals.

More detail at Bild Sport