REAL MADRID
Real Madrid round-up: Gareth Bale, Vinicius, Isco, Marcelo
With the FIFA international break coming to an end yesterday, thoughts at the Bernabeu are now centered on Saturday's home game against Levante.
Another international break comes to an end and as the first team players return to the Spanish capital, head coach Julen Lopetegui cranks up the preparation ahead of Saturday's home game against Levante UD.
Bale mystery
It's still unclear if the Cardiff born player will be part of Lopetegui's plans for Saturday with ongoing doubt regarding his fitness showing no sign of abating. Wales released the player earlier in the knowledge that he was not fully fit to face the Republic of Ireland in the UEFA Nations League with Bale is still training alone but hoping to be back on the pitch.
Vinicius time?
Will this be the weekend when first team coach Julen Lopetegui gives Brazilian teenager his debut? The former Flamengo star is back in Madrid after representing the Brazilian U-20 side during the international break. Goal scoring has become a major problem for Real Madrid in recent games with the side drawing blanks in their past four outings.
Packed fixture list
Matches are coming think and fast now for Real Madrid with five games in the space of three weeks for Lopetegui’s team. first up is the Levante LaLiga game at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday. On Tuesday Viktoria Plzen come to Madrid for the third match in the Champions League 2018/19 group stage. The following weekend it's the first El Clasico of the season as Madrid travel to face Barcelona at Camp Nou.
The following midweek sees the top flight sides enter the fray for the 2018/19 Copa del Rey with the draw scheduled for next Friday. Valladolid in LaLiga (03.11) complete the final game in a packed few weeks for Madrid.
Isco and Marcelo return
Good news for Julen Lopetegui ahead of Saturday's LaLiga game at home to Levante with the expected return of both Isco and Marcelo. The Benalmadena born player is recovering after an appendix operation in late September with Marcelo picking up a calf injury in the away defeat to Sevilla on September 26. Both players have been training with the rest of the squad since the beginning of the week and are expected to play at the weekend.
Levante tickets
Thinking of heading to the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday? Match tickets for the Levante game (1300 CEST start) are still available ranging for 45 euro for the cheapest seat through to 265 for a ticket in the 'posh seats'.
