Coach Manuel Pellegrini faces the prospect of naming a team without Kaka for this weekend’s fixture against Almeria as the Brazilian continues to suffer from a groin injury.

 

Coming off the back of what was an encouraging performance against Barcelona in El Classico despite the 1-0 reverse, and with a fit-again Cristiano Ronaldo back in contention, Pellegrini must have thought that his luck was changing. However, with bitter rivals Barce now five points clear at the top of La Liga, Real Madrid needed to move up a gear and to start to put in performances that would maintain contact with the Catalan club. A fully fit squad would have aided that but with Kaka continuing to train apart from the rest of the squad due to the niggling injury, the concern of a possible longer term absence should the injury not clear up remains a constant threat.

"He has been playing through the pain. He has had a groin problem and this perhaps explains his inconsistent performances," said Real’s sports director Miguel Pardeza "In my day it nearly always required an operation but now there are other types of treatments which are much better, and I am sure he will be back with us again very soon."