Real Madrid to field weakened team against Liverpool

Real's five Spanish World Cup players, plus Brazil's Roberto Carlos, only returned to training on Monday and they will not be risked against the English side, although they may come in against either Bayern Munich or AC Milan on Sunday. "They won't play," Del Bosque said at a news conference ahead of the game. "I'm absolutely clear about that."

"We'll try and give one or more of them a few minutes in the final match but at the moment they need more preparation for a match like this."

The other players to miss Friday's game against Liverpool will be goalkeeper Iker Casillas, striker Fernando Morientes and midfielder Ivan Helguera.

French midfielder Claude Makelele is likely to miss out with a back injury but Real will still be able to field the likes of Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane.

AC Milan and Bayern Munich play each other on Saturday in the second match of the tournament, which is being played as part of Real's centenary celebrations.

The final and a match between the two losers will be played on Sunday.