TNT Sports
Real duo ready
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Published 16/11/2005 at 17:05 GMT
Real Madrid's Brazilian forwards Ronaldo and Julio Baptista will be fit for Saturday's Liga match against arch-rivals Barcelona. Ronaldo damaged ankle ligaments in last month's victory over Atletico Madrid, while Baptista suffered a knee injury during Real's 4-1 win over Rosenborg.
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"If I wasn't feeling good I would be the first to say so, but the pain is now minimal and I can put up with it," Baptista told a news conference on Wednesday at the club's new training ground in Valdebebas.
"Ronaldo is in good shape too. He got injured three days before I did and he's getting stronger every day. We both want to play."
French playmaker Zinedine Zidane and defender Ivan Helguera are also back in full training and will be ready to play in Saturday's game at the Bernabeu, but midfielder Thomas Gravesen and centre-back Jonathan Woodgate will miss out through injury.
Real are third in the Liga, three points adrift of surprise leaders Osasuna and one behind Barcelona.
CONFUSION OVER CASILLAS DEAL
Chelsea have been alerted by Iker Casillas' failure to sign a contract extension with Real Madrid.
The 24-year-old - whose current deal expires in the summer - looked set to pen a new deal after holding talks with club president Florentino Perez three weeks ago.
But there has been no movement since then, sparking Chelsea's interest and leaving the player's agent, Gines Carvajal, to reiterate the Spain keeper remains keen on staying at the Santiago Bernabeu despite the lingering confusion.
"It was said that he would renew (his contract) in two days, and that he would be presented at a big ceremony," Carvajal said. "The only thing it has done is to make the whole situation seem a bit stranger and start a debate that we would prefer didn't exist.
"When the president (Florentino Perez) wants us to sit down and speak there is a 99 percent chance that he will renew. However, you always have to leave a small margin for what could happen."
The Premiership champions already have Carlo Cudicini as back-up to first-choice stopper Petr Cech, but the chance to snap up one of Europe's top keepers on a free transfer would prove too tempting to pass up.
GUERRERO IN THE WARS
Athletic Bilbao midfielder Julen Guerrero faces three weeks out after picking up a thigh injury in the Basque side's 3-1 Copa del Rey win last week.
The 31-year-old was fit enough to be named among the substitutes in the match against Espanyol, but has aggravated the injury in training.
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