Beckham out for two more weeks
England captain David Beckham is still two to three weeks away from recovery from the rib injury his sustained playing in the World Cup qualifier against Wales.
Beckham has only been able to do light training and exercises with Real Madrid medical staff to aid his recuperation but said he was still a little way off a return to training.
"I still have a little bit of pain and I will be out for at least another two weeks," he said.
Meanwhile Madrid coach Mariano Garcia Remon claims Michael Owen has the edge over the league's top scorer Samuel Eto'o, who the club turned down in the summer before he went to Barcelona.
"I like very much how Owen plays. He has started two games and has given us six points, I would not swop him for Eto'o," Garcia Remon told RTVE Madrid, referring to victories over Dynamo Kiev and Valencia.
He claimed Madrid are quite capable of pulling back the nine points that separate them from Barca, the league leaders.
"Barcelona are playing very well and also having that little bit of luck that we are lacking in decisive moments.
"The season is very long and we must concentrate on ourselves, nothing is decided yet and nine points is nothing over a whole season but we must be careful not to allow it to widen.
"Real Madrid have a better squad than last year and I am not going to ask for any reinforcements unless there is someone very interesting."
