Madrid, Sept 12: Spanish Primera Liga giants have their eye on Europe as they go into this weekend's domestic action with the likes of Real Madrid coveting success and riches from the Champions League which starts next week.
Real Madrid have set themselves a target of a 30th league crown and a tenth European title in the knowledge that last year, when they failed to win the latter trophy, was regarded as something of a failure. Having since added England skipper David Beckham to their ranks Real expect to achieve the double this time round and are already sharpening their knives for the arrival of group F rivals Marseille on Tuesday.
First, however, is a home encounter tomorrow against Real Valladolid. Both sides have taken four points from two matches to date in a somewhat lacklustre start by the big teams after two rounds of matches which have brought a rather paltry 36 goals in all.

Real, still worrying about their defensive shortcomings after allowing veteran Ivan Helguera to quit and move to Qatar, hope talismanic Frenchman Zinedine Zidane will have recovered from the thigh injury which forced him to miss yesterday's training.



Most of Real's foreign legion was on international duty in midweek and Brazilian stars such as Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos were excused training also as they trekked back from South America following a narrow World Cup qualifying win over Ecuador, the goal coming from Barcelona's Ronaldinho.


Bureau Report