Raul back in Real squad after passing fitness test
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Your support makes all the difference.Raul will join the Real Madrid squad to face Porto in the Champions' League today after passing a fitness test.
The prolific Spanish striker missed Real's 2-0 defeat by Valencia on Saturday because of a hip injury and he was rated doubtful for the Group F game away to Porto. But he was able to join his team-mates for a practice match yesterday and was later named in a 21-man squad for the trip.
Guti may replace Esteban Cambiasso in midfield after the Argentine's poor performance at the Mestalla. But Real will be without David Beckham after the England captain suffered an injury to the sole of his right foot against Valencia. Ivan Helguera is back in the squad. Real, nine-times European Cup winners, are top of their Group after beating Olympique Marseilles 4-2 in their opening match.
Porto have had closed training sessions since Sunday but few surprises are expected when they line up against Real with just the Russian midfielder Dmitri Alenitchev (thigh) on the injury list.
The Portuguese champions have been slow to find the form which won them a domestic league and cup double, plus the Uefa Cup, last season, and the playmaker Deco Souza has been notably below par. However, Jose Mourinho's side have finally pulled clear at the top of the Portuguese League after beating Vitoria Guimaraes 2-1 away at the weekend.
Celta Vigo, who play Milan in Group H, recorded their first League win of the season at the weekend when they came from two goals behind to win 3-2 at home to Valladolid, but their coach, Miguel Angel Lotina, faces some serious selection problems as the central midfield pairing of Jose Ignacio and Peter Luccin are both suspended. They are likely to be replaced by an experimental formation of the Brazilian duo, Rogerio Vagner and Everton Giovanella.
The former Arsenal defender Silvinho is doubtful because of an ankle injury, but the midfielder Jesus Jesuli should be available despite suffering from a back problem. The striker Savo Milosevic, who scored twice on Saturday, is suffering from pain in his heel but is still likely to play.
The Milan striker Filippo Inzaghi looks set to start after making a rapid recovery from a neck injury. Inzaghi, who has been in devastating form for club and country, was expected to miss the match after a collision with the Perugia goalkeeper, Zeljko Kalac, nine days ago.
The gritty midfielder Gennaro Gattuso starts a two-match ban after a red card in Milan's previous group win over Ajax, and should be replaced by Massimo Ambrosini.
For their Group H meeting with Bruges, the Ajax coach, Ronald Koeman, is expected to make only one change to the side that thrashed Willem II Tilburg 6-0 on Sunday, with Rafael van der Vaart coming in for Wesley Sneijder.
The Bruges forwards Sandy Martens and Andres Mendoza are both suspended, while the midfielder Alin Stoica, who twisted his ankle at the weekend, is not available to play, although he is back in training.
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