Another group of players worked in the gym and on pitches one and two.” And that’s pretty much that.A previous friendly against Rayo Vallecano had already been cancelled because of Covid and so in the end everyone was denied the only chance to see.All things are relative and maybe not even they could shout above the rolling thunder from Catalonia, but in the capital these have been unusually inactive days largely devoid even of rumour.

Last season the revolution was cancelled.Even the transition didn’t take place, a generational shift put on hold then that must be restarted now. Of those, the only one that can be considered a probable starter is Martin Ødegaard – the outstanding midfielder in Spain until lockdown, heading back from Real Sociedad a year earlier than planned.Otherwise, the faces will be familiar following a process of sporting consolidation and financial accumulation for Madrid, conscious of the impact of the coronavirus crisis and preparing for 2021, when they hope Kylian Mbappé comes on the market. And they are the champions, after all.It shouldn’t look exactly the same though, even with Zinedine Zidane still in charge, seeking to become the first Madrid manager to win back-to-back titles in almost 30 years. It’s not just that Madrid have not bought anyone; it is that from the start they were clear that they would not, almost all the talk silenced before it had even begun, however hard some tried. Borja Mayoral has returned from loan at Levante and could climb ahead of Mariano and Jovic, for whom Madrid seek a buyer. There are just four low-key arrivals, all loan returnees. “It’s been different, much shorter, but it’s been intense and the team is in good condition,” Thibaut Courtois said.Madrid’s income this season is projected to be closer to €650m (£596m) than the €822m they had planned for last season.

On Sunday night, his Real Madrid teammates emerge from the quiet and step back into the spotlight to start that season without him.Available for everyone, funded by readers.© 2020 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. There have been moves for Gareth Bale, James Rodríguez, Achraf Hakimi, Óscar Rodríguez, Brahim Díaz, Sergio Reguilón, Dani Ceballos and Kubo, possibly Luka Jovic too, almost an entire team’s worth of talent, but all are outbound moves and none had a significant role last season. Luka Modric is 35, Ramos is 34, Marcelo and Benzema are 32, Kroos 30.Of those that played important roles, only Ferland Mendy, 25, and Fede Valverde, 22, had not been there the previous season and in the case of the Uruguayan, so important in the opening six months, he slipped from the side after lockdown.Valverde may anticipate greater continuity, and a role must be found for Ødegaard, who has been convinced to come back. Greater responsibility and roles may also be handed to Rodrygo, 19, and Vinícius, who is 20. That can’t continue.Which is where Eden Hazard comes in, or at least that’s what they hope. La … Those deals have resulted in a saving on salaries and raised almost €100m on sales – although that figure is cast into considerable doubt by the claim of Rodríguez’s former club Banfield, entitled to a proportion of any fee, that far from paying €25m for the Colombian, Everton got him for free.Maybe, then, no one needed the Getafe game to predict what Madrid will look like this season, and not just because Ødegaard, Mariano, Jovic, Lucas Vázquez, Marco Asensio and Isco didn’t play. Real start a week behind with the Basque side facing Valladolid last weekend. Site officiel avec le calendrier des prochains matchs du Real Madrid avec la date, lheure, la chaîne et vente des places. With no signings, no tour and no supporters, Zinedine Zidane’s side will be looking for a big improvement from Eden Hazard.Madrid treated it as a training session not to be shared. Real Madrid begin La Liga defence surrounded by air of mystery With no signings, no tour and no supporters, Zinedine Zidane’s side will be looking for a big improvement from Eden Hazard. A year on, it is not a stretch to expect them to be better. On the face of it, the answer is obvious: like last season. Madrid’s first.And yet, with Hazard still not ready or at his ideal weight, Roberto Martínez was unable to field the player during the international break.