Real Madrid were back on the grass at Valdebebas today, kicking off preparations for Sunday night’s La Liga clash against Valencia at Mestalla (9:00pm local time).
After two days of rest following the win over Rayo Vallecano, Alvaro Arbeloa’s squad returned to Real Madrid City for a session that was as much about physical conditioning as it was about tactics — with fitness coach Antonio Pintus taking center stage.
Pintus pushes the squad with high-intensity testing
The headline from the day was a demanding, high-intensity fitness test overseen by Pintus
and his staff. Players were seen wearing the now-famous breathing masks, which are often misunderstood as “altitude simulation” equipment. In reality, the masks are used to measure exertion and oxygen intake — essentially giving the staff a precise reading of each player’s limits and how much more load they can safely handle.
The goal is simple: gather data, push intensity, and raise the team’s physical ceiling at a key point in the season.
A long session focused on conditioning
Today’s training wasn’t short and sharp — it was a marathon. The session reportedly began around 12:00 and stretched until roughly 3:00pm, a full three hours in which physical work dominated. With no midweek match on the horizon, Madrid are using this rare window to build rhythm and fitness without needing to manage the squad around recovery days.
For a team that normally lives in constant three-day cycles, the current schedule is a gift — even if it came as a consequence of the Copa del Rey disappointment.
Injury updates: Rüdiger, Carvajal, Trent, Militão and Bellingham
There were a few key notes on availability:
- Antonio Rüdiger and Ferland Mendy are very close to returning.
- Éder Militão and Jude Bellingham remain in recovery, still working separately as they build toward a return.
The expectation remains that Militão and Bellingham are the two players whose comebacks are still not imminent, while others are getting closer.
There was also optimism surrounding several names who are nearing full availability.
Dani Carvajal has been training with the team for some time now, and the sense is that he’ll be fit enough to start at Mestalla if needed.
In addition, Trent is expected to return to the matchday squad, which would give Arbeloa more flexibility — and could allow for a key tactical adjustment: moving Fede Valverde back into midfield, where his intensity and two-way ability can influence games more directly.
Looking ahead: a rare stretch of uninterrupted training
Madrid’s plan is to maximize this break from midweek fixtures. The club is set for four straight training sessions leading into Valencia, and a similar structure is expected next week ahead of Real Sociedad’s visit to the Bernabéu on Saturday.
In short: rest is over, intensity is back — and with Pintus running the show, Real Madrid are trying to turn this unusual calendar gap into a physical advantage for the run-in.
