The Dutch striker underwent surgery to decalcify his right ankle and the operation has been a success that has allowed him to make his comeback for the final four games of the season.
In the middle of March things did not appear to be so optimistic after Van Nistelrooy stormed out of Madrid’s Valdebebas training ground having been told that he could miss the European Championships.
Appearing with his suitcase, the former Manchester United striker boarded a plane to the Netherlands in order to seek advice there and was told that he could be back within six weeks.
Madrid president, Ramón Calderón, called the player to find out what was happening and, according to AS, was told: “Mr President, be assured that everything is under control here. They have guaranteed me that I can play again within six weeks. I will help the team in the last four matches.”
Following surgery and a personal recovery programme, Van Nistelrooy has returned as promised and only missed last weekend’s match because Madrid doctors advised him to take another week’s rest.
The return of the Dutchman could be bad news for Javier Saviola, who had an impressive outing against Athletic Bilbao but could now return to the bench.

Kraljevski klub- Real Madrid je krenuo vrlo dobro sezonu kako se i ocekivalo jer su doveli mnogo dobrih pojacanja. Sezona je pocela najbolje za Sneijdera koji je da 5 golova i zaimpresirao upravu Reala. Najveci protivnik Reala Barcelona je lose krenula sezonu i time je zaostala nekoliko bodova za kraljevskim klubom. Nakon svih dobrih rezultata ovoga kluba pocelo je sve naopako. Barca je usla u formu a Real je sve vise i vise gubio, cak im se katalonski klub priblizio na 2 boda. Uprava Reala je morala nesto poduzeti. Bernd Schuster je dao svojim igracima nade i to im je dobro doslo. Real Madrid je opet poceo da gazi sve sto mu se naslo na putu. Proslo je nekoliko kola i susreli su se FC. Barcelona vs Real Madrid CF. Utakmica je zavrsena dobrim rezultatom za Real kojim je pobijedio katalonski klub sa 1:0, a gol za Real je postigao silovitim sutom Julio Baptista. Nakon ove utakmice Barca je skroz oslabilo a to je iskoristavala zuta podmornica Vilarreal koji su se tada premjestili na drugo mjesto ali opet malo kasnije na 3. Sada da malo udjemo u sadasnjost. Real Madrid je na prvom mjestu sa 75. bodova na 2. mjestu se nalazi Vilarreal sa 65. bodova i Katalonski klub Barcelona se nalazi na 3. mjestu se 61. bodom! Mozete sami procijeniti da kraljevski klub bjezi zutoj podmornici 10. bodova a Barceloni velikih 14. bodova. Stime se govori da je Real vec osigurao drugo uzastopno osvajanje Spanske La Lige. Blizi se i drugi El Classico koji ce se odrzati za nekoliko dana.

Nobody wanted to miss the party. The Bernabéu was packed with enthusiastic fans, excited about taking a victory against Athletic Bilbao despite knowing that it wouldn’t give the team the League title yet due to Villarreal’s victory over Betis. Saviola, Robben and Higuaín scored the three goals of the clash.

The players don’t mind when or where they win the title and fought tremendously hard throughout the encounter. Saviola was the new face on Bernd Schuster’s line-up and some reshuffling was done in defence due to Fabio Cannavaro’s suspension, with Pepe and Heinze teaming up as centre backs flanked by Marcelo and Sergio Ramos.

Real Madrid wanted a victory and to thrill the fans with a good show. Sneijder had the first chance from a long shot on the 10-minute mark. The keeper later deflected a strike by Raúl onto Sneijder’s boots. The Dutchman shot, the ball was cleared again by the keeper and Saviola picked it up and scored his third goal of the season (13′). A mere victory wasn’t enough for the Whites tonight and they kept putting a siege on Bilbao’s goal, especially through Robinho and Saviola; the Brazilian missed a clear chance in the 18th minute and the Argentine tested the goalie’s reflexes on many a time.

Athletic also tried to surprise Iker Casillas, who saved the day by impressively clearing Extebarría’s powerful shot from outside the box on the 29-minute mark. Both sides had one chance after the other, proving to be extremely focused on the game. At one point, Gabriel Heinze tackled Llorente late inside the box and a penalty was awarded to Bilbao, but Iker Casillas yet again pulled rank and saved Garmendia’s shot.

The second half was very similar to the first. Both sides looked for a goal and put on a great show. Gurpegui had a great chance in the 52nd minute, while Real Madrid’s most dangerous play was finished with a shot by Sneijder that was cleared for a corner kick (60′).

Six minutes later, Guti’s shot was cleared by Armando. Schuster then decided to replace Raúl and Robinho with Robben and Higuaín and the move simply couldn’t have been better; soon after taking the pitch, the Argentine crossed the ball into the centre of Bilbao’s box for Robben to slam it into the back of the net (77′). The crowd went wild and sang the victory chant, only to see how Higuaín netted the team’s third strike one minute later, buy controlling the ball beautifully and shooting it right past the near post (78′).

The three points taken tonight have put Real Madrid closer to the title than ever before this year. Despite Villarreal’s victory in Seville, excitement ruled throughout the encounter at the Bernabéu and the fans celebrated the victory as if the title had been won.

MATCH REPORT
3 - Real Madrid: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Heinze, Marcelo; Sneijder (Drenthe, 86’), Gago, Guti, Robinho (Robben, 72’); Saviola & Raúl (Higuaín, 72’).
0 - Athletic: Armando; Iraola, Amorrebieta, Gurpegui, Koikili; Garmendia, Javi Martínez, Susaeta (Murillo, 79’), Gabilondo (Aduriz, 77’); Llorente & Etxeberría. (realmadrid.com)
Goals:
1-0, 13”: Saviola.
2-0, 73′: Robben.
3-0, 78′: Higuaín.

Jucer je kraljevski klub potopio Athletic Bilabao sa velikih 3:0. Utakmica je krenula napeto svi su imali sanse, ali golman Bilba-a je grijesio i njega je kaznio igrac za kojeg se nije ocekivalo da ce igrati Javier Saviola 13 minuta 1:0 za Real Madrid. Nakon ovoga gola je bilo vrlo, vrlo zestoko jer se nije ni Real branio. Ali uz pomoc Ikera ostao je isti rezultat. Odjednom penal za Atheltic Bilbao! Jedanaesterac je sutao Extebarria kojem je veliki Iker Casillas odbranio penal. Bilo je jos napada ali do kraja poluvremena ostao je isti rezultat. Drugo poluvrijeme je bilo jos bolje. Igra je bila ista. U igru su usli Robben i Higuain. Nakon sto su usli odmah je Arjen Robben zabio gol 73 minuta 2:0. Nije proslo puno vremena i sada je gol postigao Gonzalo Higuain u 78 minuti za 3:0, i on je takodjer tek usao u igru. Izgleda da je Schuster pogodio sa ovim izmjenama. Zuti kartoni: Heinze, Sergio Ramos, Garmendia i Javi  Martinez.

The Santiago Bernabéu will host the final game of Matchday 34 on Sunday, and depending on several factors, Real Madrid could win the league title and celebrate in front of their home fans. Should Barcelona and Villarreal fail to win their respective matches, all the Whites need is a victory over Athletic Bilbao.The Real Madrid squad knows it depends only on itself to win the club’s 31st league title, and although it wants to accomplish the feat sooner rather than later, there’s no sense of pressure or urgency. That said, the players haven’t hidden the fact that want the trophy in their hands as soon as possible, preferably at home in the Santiago Bernabéu.

Of the 22 men available to choose from, Bernd Schuster must select just 18 for Sunday’s clash against Athletic. The only confirmed absences are Cannavaro, Van Nistelrooy, and Metzelder. The Italian centre-back must serve his one-match suspension against the Lions, while Metzelder is still unavailable to play due to injury.

Ruud van Nistelrooy has started training again more than one month after having arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle, but in order to avoid relapsing, the Dutchman will not suit up against Athletic Bilbao. He may, however, be fit for action and ready to go next week against Osasuna.

Athletic currently sit in 10th place with the same number of points as Espanyol and Deportivo, and they still have a chance of qualifying for a spot in European competition next season; with 15 points remaining, the Basque side is just five away from a berth in the UEFA Cup. Joaquín Caparrós is without the services of Gorka Iraizoz, Pablo Orbaiz, Iñaki Muñoz, Fran Yeste, and Aitor Ocio, but he will be able to count on Gurpegui, who makes his return from a two-year suspension.

Veceras ce biti odrzana utakmica izmedju Madridskog Reala i Atletic Bilaba-a. Real je jos uvijek lider, barca je izgubila od Deportiva 2:0 a to je bila odlicna vijest za ovaj klub. Ocekuje se pobjeda Reala jer kada bi ovdje pobijedili sve bi bilo rijeseno.

Sastav:

Golmani: Dudek i Casillas

Odbrana: Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo, Heinze i Torres

Sredina: Diarra, Gago, Robben, Guti, Drenthe, Sneijder i Balboa

Napad: Raul, Robinho, Saviola, Baptista i Higuain

Ibrahimovic’s long-term future at San Siro has come into doubt after he was quoted yesterday as saying that he would like to play in La Liga or the Premiership.”In Italy I am well, but I do not know what will happen in the future,” said the 26-year-old.

“I have a fascination also to play in England or Spain, technical championships like Italy.”

Real Madrid have been long-term admirers of the Swedish hitman, and were strongly linked with making a gargantuan bid for him during his days at Juventus.

Reports in the media in the past week or so have stated that Madrid are now ready to re-ignite their interest this summer, and Schuster has now seemed to confirm this.

“Ibra? He’s a great player and I would like him here,” said the German tactician.

“All the major players are welcome and are possible targets for Real Madrid. Ibrahimovic is one I would like to have.”

Ibrahimovic has been in poor form in 2008, and hasn’t scored in open play for three months. He is currently sidelined with a  knee injury that is threatening to rule him out for the rest of the club season.

With Inter interested in Diarra in return, a cash plus player deal is a possibility. However, Chelsea have also entered the fray, reports out of England this morning suggest, and a Drogba-Ibra swap is also being mooted. (Goal.com)