Time for blood, sweat, tears approach at Real

Real Madrid coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro called for a blood, sweat and tears approach at the club ahead of their Spanish Cup last 16 return against Bilbao.

With striker Ronaldo out through injury through to the end of the month - he will miss league games against Seville, Cadiz and Celta Vigo - Lopez Caro put the emphasis on fitness and self-sacrifice as Real bid to make up lost ground with 13 points to recover in the league title race.

"We will be leaving a lot to be desired of we aren't prepared to shed every last drop of blood out there on the field," said Lopez Caro, former reserve coach who replaced the sacked Wanderley Luxemburgo five weeks ago.

Lopez Caro is the nine-times European champions' and 29-times Spanish league winners' fifth coach in two-and-a-half years and he faces the task of ensuring the meringues do not suffer a third straight barren season.

The squad are under orders to respond and the new striker from Roma, Antonio Cassano, currently recovering from a leg muscle tear, has been told to undergo intense physical work in a bid to lose four kilos.

"Cassano is recovering and improving his fitness. We'll see how he progresss in the coming days," Lopez Caro told Real's website as the club looked to build on a 1-0 first leg lead against Bilbao.

Injury-plagued Jonathan Woodgate will likewise not face Bilbao as he has a leg muscle strain having only played twice since his return from a hamstring injury.