Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has returned to full training ahead of Sunday's La Liga game at home to Espanyol, but fellow attacker Gareth Bale looks unlikely to be risked as he continues his recovery from a calf injury.
Ronaldo, 30, missed Wednesday's group training session at Madrid's Valdebebas facility, with the club giving no details beyond saying that the Portugal captain had trained indoors as his teammates completed a physically demanding session outside under the eyes of coach Zinedine Zidane.
Bale, 26, has also this week been training away from his teammates as he recovers from a calf muscle injury picked up in the 5-1 win at home to Sporting Gijon a fortnight ago.
Ronaldo, who has completed every minute of Madrid's 27 La Liga and Champions League games so far this season, was back training outside with the group on Thursday morning, read a club statement, and now looks set to face Espanyol as Madrid look to keep up the chase on league leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
"The week of training sessions at Real Madrid City continues with the Whites completing the third session of the week as they continue to prepare for Sunday's game against Espanyol [8:30 p.m. local time]," the statement read.
"High-intensity ball work took centre stage in a session which saw Cristiano Ronaldo rejoin the rest of the group, and which included the following Castilla players: [Marcos] Llorente, [Martin] Odegaard and [Borja] Mayoral.
"The Whites began the session with an intense warm-up before splitting off into two teams to do possession and pressure exercises. After that the players completed a strenuous drill involving sprints and shots on goal. The session ended with a game played on a small-sized pitch.
"Gareth Bale continued his recovery by combining an indoor workout with specific ball drills out on the training field."
After Thursday's session, Bale tweeted, in both Spanish and English, to say "light session today, almost ready now!" -- although the trip to Granada on Feb. 7 looks a more realistic comeback game for the Wales international.
Light pitch workout session. Feeling good! #halamadrid pic.twitter.com/iC6H1FwJN5
- Gareth Bale (@GarethBale11) January 28, 2016
Madrid captain Sergio Ramos is also expected to return from injury to face Espanyol, with fellow centre-back Pepe possibly being rested.