Real to make changes against Malmo

MADRID, December 7 

Real Madrid coach Rafa Benitez has the luxury of making changes for Tuesday’s Champions League game at home to Malmo so that his team are in the best possible shape for Sunday’s La Liga match at Villarreal.

 Real are through to the last 16 as Group A winners with a game to spare and Benitez said the Swedish side’s visit was a chance to give some second-rank players a chance and to allow those who have been out injured recently to get playing time. “Yes it’s a day to rotate always with the idea of winning,” Benitez said at the Bernabeu stadium.

Benitez said one Real player who would not feature on Tuesday was centre back and captain Sergio Ramos, who has been sidelined with a shoulder injury. The Spain international was back in training on Monday and should be fit for the Villarreal game, Benitez said.

PSG, who are also through, host Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday, with the Ukrainian side and Malmo vying to finish third and qualify for the Europa League. Meanwhile, Madrid forward Gareth Bale said the team is still an “united” outfit despite having a tough time on and off-field in the last few weeks.

Ronaldo has an ice room in his house!

Manchester: Former Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson revealed that Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo’s new house in Madrid has an ice room. “He’s got two pools; a hot pool and a cold pool. He’s got an ice room at minus 160 degrees where he goes in for 10 minutes after every game. It’s just unbelievable,” Ferguson was quoted as saying.

Ferguson also added that there was no doubt the house was made for the “best player in the world”, who plays for Real Madrid. “It is made for the best player in the world, no doubt about that,” he told students at the Stanford School of Business.

“I’ve never known anyone like him, honestly. The gym is about half the size of this (pointing to the Stanford School of Business lecture hall), he’s got everything in it.”— Agencies