Former Arsenal and Real Madrid midfielder Julio Baptista will make his return to Champions League action on Tuesday night when Malaga take on Porto at the Dragão after a 16 month absence.
Baptista, who has been out for much of the last year and a half with three consecutive injury lay-offs, returned to action recently and has started the Andalusian side’s last two fixtures as he searches for both fitness and form.
The player, who was influential in Malaga retaining their La Liga status in 2010-11, told Globo Esporte that he is looking forward to the experience.
“Thank God, everything is going well,” he said. “There is always that fear in your first game, that you will come on and something will happen. But, I feel really good and I am able to do everything.
“Now I am improving my physical condition, which is very important. You can train for two or even four weeks, but you only recover once you start to play.”
Baptista has featured in Malaga’s last three fixtures in La Liga, playing for an hour against Athletic Bilbao last weekend before being replaced by Frenchman Jeremy Toulalan.
Source: Globo Esporte
