Real Madrid are likely to be without Gareth Bale and Dani Carvajal when Villarreal arrive at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday evening.
Both players remained inside the Valdebebas training complex recovering on Monday, while coach Zinedine Zidane put the squad through their paces ahead of the game against the Champions League chasing Yellow Submarine.
A minor muscle injury will keep Bale out of the game as a precaution, and in a bid for him to be fit to face Manchester City next Tuesday.
Rayo Vallecano on the following Saturday will be his next objective otherwise.
Carvajal looks set to miss the City game too, meaning Danilo will deputise.
Norwegian starlet Martin Odegaard’s Real career could finally be about to kick start, with the 17-year-old set to train with the first team after impressing recently for Castilla.