Real Madrid returned to work on Tuesday to prepare for their match against Atheltic Bilbao on Saturday (20:00 CET).

Real Madrid returned to work on Tuesday to prepare for their match against Atheltic Bilbao on Saturday (20:00 CET).

Higuain (grade I-II fibrilar tear on the left femoral biceps), Ven der Vaart (Grade I-II fibrilar tear on the left soleus muscle), Xabi Alonso (bruise on the left fibula) and Van Nistelrooy (strain on the left triceps surae) stayed in the gym. Diarra was absent as he is in the Africa Cup of Nations with Mali.

The squad divided into two groups following Pellegrini's outlining speech. The team's goalkeepers (Casillas, Dudek and Adan) trained with keeper coach xabier Mancisidor, while the rest jogged, tackled physical exercises and ball work devised by fitness trainer Jose Cabello. Meanwhile, Ezequiel Garay, who had joined his team-mates for the jog, continued to run on his own.