Real Madrid

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Strong twitch of his right thigh hamstring muscle

The defender had to be substituted at halftime. He had been doubtful all week due to a strained hamstring, the exact same one that relapsed furing the game... except that now, he has a strong contracture. He will rest until Wednesday, when trainings are resumed and at which point he will begin his recovery. In any event, he has time ahead to recover as he saw his fifth yellow card during this campaign and is suspended for the home match against Athletic Bilbao.





Fabio Cannavaro's hamstring muscles are giving him quite a few headaches. The Madridista centre back was already niggled against Lyon, with a strained thigh, but Mestalla proved the fatal blow: his injury relapsed and worsened, to the point of having suffered a strong muscular contracture. That said, he wouldn't have been able to play against Bilbao next week as he was booked for the fifth time this season.

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[abadani69]

David Beckham returned to full training with Real Madrid on Wednesday after a two-week absence because of a left knee injury.

Beckham, who missed three games with a swollen meniscus, is expected to be ready for Sunday's Spanish league game against Athletic Bilbao at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

The 31-year-old midfielder has made the starting lineup in only three league games this season and appears likely to be on the substitute's bench again.

Beckham's lack of starts heightened speculation about whether he will extend his four-year contract, which expires in June.

If the former England captain doesn't renew before the end of the year, he will be free to negotiate a move to other clubs. However, both Beckham and Madrid have indicated they hope to strike a new deal.

Madrid is in third place after 12 league games, three points behind defending champion FC Barcelona.

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Vote for Cannavaro as Best Athlete of the Year

Fabio Cannavaro has been nominated by the US Sports Academy for the Best Athlete of the Year award. The centre back of Real Madrid has been pitted against other great sportsmen, including Roger Federer, Tiger Woods and Michael Phelps.

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Goals from Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos moved Real Madrid up to second in the Primera Liga on Sunday, as they came from behind to beat struggling Athletic Bilbao 2-1 in the Bernabeu.

Bilbao, with new coach Mane at the helm, went ahead from Luis Prieto's deflected free kick in the first half, but Real's Brazilians led the fightback after the break with the winner coming after the visitors had been reduced to 10 men.

Real moved into second place on 29 points, just one behind leaders and arch-rivals Barcelona who were held to a 1-1 draw away to Levante on Saturday.

Earlier Espanyol fought back from a goal down to beat Sevilla 2-1 at home, which meant the Andalucians slip back to third with 28 points.

Mali striker Frederic Kanoute had put Sevilla ahead from the penalty spot after 26 minutes, but former Spain striker Raul Tamudo engineered an outstanding equaliser in the second half.

Facing his own goal and with two defenders in attendance, Tamudo pulled the ball back and spun between his markers before beating the advancing Andres Palop with a cool near-post finish.

Striker Luis Garcia volleyed the winner with 10 minutes remaining and although Espanyol lost midfielder Albert Riera to a red card they hung on for the win.

Atletico Madrid are fourth on 24 points after beating Real Betis 1-0 away on Saturday, and are a point ahead of Real Zaragoza who fell 2-1 at home to Osasuna after a last-minute own goal from Leonardo Ponzio.

Further down the table, Celta Vigo came back from two down to draw 2-2 away at Real Mallorca while Paco Flores got off to a poor start in his first game at the helm of bottom club Gimnastic, who lost 2-0 away at Villarreal.

DEFLECTED GOAL

Real Madrid's counter-attacking style has given them the best away record in the league but their problems at home were there for all to see in the Bernabeu as they laboured to break down Bilbao in the first period.

Brazilian forward Robinho sparkled intermittently, setting up Michel Salgado for a shot early on which Inaki Lafuente did well to save at his near post.

But it was the visitors who struck first in the 34th minute when Luis Prieto's fierce free kick deflected off the chest of Igor Gabilondo enough to put off Iker Casillas.

Real coach Fabio Capello brought on David Beckham and Ronaldo at half time, and the home side stepped up the pressure.

After 65 minutes Ronaldo broke the offside trap to control Sergio Ramos's long pass and fire home the equaliser.

Bilbao's task was made more difficult when striker Aritz Aduriz was sent off for leading with the arm into a challenge with Mahamadou Diarra in the 75th minute.

Seven minutes later Roberto Carlos scored with a low shot from outside the area, but Real needed Casillas to make sure of the three points when he turned away Andoni Iraola's goalbound shot with his leg at the end.

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MEDICAL REPORT

Cicinho: Torn anterior cruciate ligament of the right knee. Surgery (26/09/06).

Ronaldo: Grade I sprain on the interior lateral ligament of the right knee. Training with squad.

Beckham: Swollen left meniscus disc. Training with squad.

Guti: Mild fibrilar tear on the right adductor muscle. Medical treatment and physiotherapy. Gym work.

Helguera: Bruised right quadriceps. Medical treatment and physiotherapy. Gym and field work.

Cannavaro: Contracted right hamstring. Medical treatment and physiotherapy. Gym work.

Francisco Pavon: Strained right triceps surae. Medical treatment and physiotherapy. Gym work.

Raul Bravo: Gastroenteritis. Special diet and rest.

Reyes: Sprained ligament of the right adductor muscle. Medical treatment and physiotherapy.

Emerson: Compartmental syndrome on left anterior tibial muscle. Medical treatment and physiotherapy. Gym and field work.

Raul: Contracted left quadriceps. Medical treatment and physiotherapy. Gym work.

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