01/12/2006
Open workout

There is only one day left for Real Madrid to get ready for Sunday's important showdown against Athletic Bilbao. The Whites can tally their fourth staight League win with a victory over a hungry team with a new coach. Mané can't ask for a better debut with an upset on the road, but the Madridistas continue growing as a team and want to get the Bernabéu believing in them again.
It has been a week of intense training sessions for the squad. The two days off the players had following their win against Valencia at Mestalla gave way to a week of strenuous physical conditioning. As has become normal during weeks without Champions League or King's Cup matches, Capello decided to make the second to last session an open workout in order to give his men a breather.

All players were required to spend the first half an hour doing sit ups in the warmup room. The same amount of time was spent on a conditioning course layed out on the turf by Massimo Neri. Four groups took turns completing power and speed drills using hurdles, slalom poles, and hoops as a very attentive Capello looked on. The Real Madrid coach had a new face in training today as Marcelo worked with the first team for the first time. The Italian manager never let the Brazilian out of his sight.

After completing the first phase of training with his teammates, Marcelo stepped onto the turf with Sergio Ramos and greeted the waiting press. He was also seen talking to Van Nistelrooy, although he found himself surrounded by his Brazilian counterparts for most of the morning. Marcelo completed the fitness course with the Dutch striker, Míchel Salgado, Raúl Bravo and Ronaldo, and put on a great show of speed.

Once everyone had completed the course, the players began their open workout, which focused on target practise. Beckham positioned himself on the right wing and Roberto Carlos and his successor took the left side. The three crossed balls into the box for the attackers, who put Casillas and Kiko Casilla to the test with a barrage of shots. After ten minutes of centering passes, everyone tried their luck from the front of the box.

No rest for Casillas
Real Madrid's starting goalkeeper had a very demanding day. Franco Tancredi didn't cut Casillas, Diego López, or Kiko Casilla any slack. While their teammates completed the conditioning course, the three practised clearing balls and their jumping save ability with the help of five dummy players, but the worst was yet to come. They first took on the forwards who were receiving crosses from the flanks and then were forced to save shots coming striaght at them.

The injured continue recovering
Sergio Ramos, who was suffering from a sprained ankle, took to the turf and trained with his teammates. The defender missed Thursday's session, but he has recovered and is available to play against Athletic Bilbao. Guti, Cannavaro and Pavón, on the other hand, are questionable. The youth team defender was the last to be placed on the medical report with muscle spasms, while Guti and Cannavaro continue their work in the gym. Iván Helguera is doubtful for Sunday. The centre back was a gametime decision against Valencia after not recovering from a deep right quadriceps bruise and he wasn't seen outside at Valdebebas all week. Capello will decide on Saturday whether or not to include Helguera on the squad list.

NEXT TRAINING SESSION:
Saturday 2 December @ 11:00 am CET. Behind closed doors at Real Madrid City.

01.12.2006 21:11 +0300
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