No day off after the rout as Real Madrid begin preparations for Elche

Real Madrid did not spend long celebrating their 4-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano. José Mourinho’s squad returned to work at the Ciudad Real Madrid the following day and immediately turned its attention to Tuesday’s away match against Elche.

The schedule offered no room for a full day off. Real will play again at 9:30 pm CEST at the Martínez Valero Stadium, leaving Mourinho with little time to prepare his players for the sixth round of LaLiga.

RECOVERY WORK FOR THE STARTERS

The players who started against Rayo focused on recovery exercises. With only a short break between matches, managing their workload was more important than putting the entire squad through another demanding session.

Real produced an impressive first-half performance at the Santiago Bernabéu, building a 3-0 lead before eventually winning 4-1. The quick return to training was therefore about maintaining rhythm while protecting the players who had carried the heaviest workload.

The rest of the squad completed pressing drills, combination work and finishing exercises. The session ended with a series of small-sided games. Those who played fewer minutes against Rayo were given a more intensive programme.

THREE PLAYERS CONTINUE THEIR RECOVERY

Ferland Mendy, Éder Militão and Rodrygo remain on individual recovery programmes. The club did not announce that any of the three had returned to full team training.

Their availability against Elche should therefore not be taken for granted. The official update only confirms that they are continuing their respective rehabilitation processes.

Mourinho is still operating without several important players, but Real have used their available options effectively. Mbappé, Álvaro Carreras and Jude Bellingham scored against Rayo, while substitute Arda Güler assisted Mbappé’s second goal in stoppage time.

ELCHE SHOW SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT

Elche will enter Tuesday’s match after earning a 1-1 draw against Athletic Club at San Mamés. Martín Anselmi adopted a more cautious approach, giving up possession but making his team more competitive defensively.

They recorded only 33.4 per cent possession and faced 19 attempts, although just three were on target. Elche are still waiting for their first league victory, but their performance in Bilbao suggested that Real may face a compact defensive block at the Martínez Valero.

That will require a different approach from the one used during the emphatic opening half against Rayo. Madrid have little preparation time, but the immediate return to work shows how Mourinho intends to handle the demanding schedule.

The four goals against Rayo are already secured. They will offer no head start in Elche.