Duo to miss clash

Roberto Carlos is out of Real Madrid's clash with Villareal on Saturday due to a knee injury which he admits could get worse without due care.

José María Gutiérrez is also a doubt for the game.

Left-back Carlos suffered a recurrence of an old knee problem when Real met Roma in Wednesday's hotly-contested Champions League tie at the Bernabeu.

The Samba ace told Spanish radio station La SER on Thursday that he is going to have to take it easy if he is to avoid the same thing that happened to Ronaldo. He said: "I'm going to tell the truth, this morning I had a scan on my right knee and doctors have confirmed that I have an important injury.

"It's the same problem I've always had - tendonitis, but this time doctors have told me to stop for 10 days so that what happened to Ronaldo doesn't happen to me".

Discounted for Saturday's trip to Villareal, Roberto Carlos will undergo further tests at the Bernabeu on Friday.

Raul Bravo will take over duties at left-back until Roberto Carlos can return.

Striker Jose María Guti could also miss the Villareal game, he retired from Thursday's training session after receiving a blow to his left ankle.

On later inspection at Madrid's Fraternidad clinic, the player was reported to be suffering from a sprain. Real coach Vicente Del Bosque must rethink his eleven with further absentees, Fernando Hierro and Claude Makelele out on Saturday, both are serving a one match ban. Iván Helguera is set to start his first match since his foot operation in August, he could partner Albert Celades in midfield or drop back into central defence with Francisco Pavón.

The game gets underway at the Madrigal at 6pm.

Villareal (probable):

López Vallejo; Roca, Q.Alvarez, Unai, Arruabarrena; Jorge López, Amor, Galca, Calleja; Víctor, Palermo.

Real Madrid (probable):

Casillas, Michel Salgado, Pavón, Rubén, Raúl Bravo, Helgeura, Celades, Figo, Zidane, Solari, Raúl.