It was perhaps a short, sharp opening period to the 2016/17 season for Zinedine Zidane but the Real Madrid boss can be under no illusions that the season is fully underway ahead of a vital run of games.

Not only does the Champions League campaign kick off with group stage fixtures against Sporting CP and Borussia Dortmund, but Osasuna and Villarreal visit the capital amidst difficult away trips to Espanyol and Las Palmas.

With all those matches taking place in just 18 days, it’s just as well that Los Blancos can now rely on Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema’s return to first-team action.

Fitness complaints have hampered the duo’s pre-season, but the Portuguese winger should start the weekend encounter with Osasuna whilst his strike partner may enter the field of play from the bench.

With Benzema impressing Zidane in training ahead of the game, attention will also turn to new fitness coach Antonio Pintus as his regime is put to the test in a constant stretch of matches.