Real Madrid returned to Spain

Real Madrid team back in Madrid after more than a week of preseason training in Ireland

Real Madrid are back on Spanish soil after ten days of intense work in Ireland. The team will have Thursday off and return to work on Friday to begin preparing for Sunday's Peace Cup opener.

The flight from Dublin landed at Madrid's Barajas International Airport at approximately 20:00. The team will enjoy a day off prior to a double session on Friday beginning at 9:30.

The Whites will not leave Spain again until 7 August, when they are scheduled to travel to Toronto, Canada.

Real Madrid wins first friendly match against Shamrock Rovers with Karim Benzema's goal (Video)

Real Madrid faced Shamrock Rovers in their first preseason match and passed the test by defeating the Irish side 1-0 thanks to a goal by Karim Benzema.

Manuel Pellegrini drew up a 4-4-2 system for his first match as coach, in which Guti played close to the left wing. Cristiano Ronaldo was positioned down the right. Real Madrid had the initiative from the start, showcasing a fast game. Marcelo was very active down the left, performing perfectly in defence and proving to be dangerous in attack.

Shamrock tried to surprise the Whites in counterattack, but weren't much of a threat. Real Madrid had several chances on goal, but they too lacked importance. The score was drawn 0-0 at the end of the first half, after which both sides made several changes. Karim Benzema came on and hit the post in his first venture in attack after receiving the ball from Negredo, who minutes later had a great shot on target that was saved by the keeper.

The Irish side was solid in defence and tried to surprise Dudek in several counterattacks to no avail. The Whites had to try incessantly to break the wall Shamrock built around their goal and eventually Benzema managed to score.

The Frenchman had been very active throughout the second half, having several chances on goal. Finally, after receiving a great 60-metre lobbed pass from Heinze on the 87-minute mark, the striker sent the ball to the back of the net.

Real Madrid eventually won 1-0, leaving traces of brilliance that naturally has to be polished throughout the preseason.

MATCH REPORT:

0 - Shamrock Rovers: Murphy (Duggan, 45'), Bermingham (Price, 45'), Maguire (Madden, 80'), Sives (Bradley, 45'), Flynn (Cahill, 45'), Rice, Robinson (Mc Guill, 49'), Jurco (Treacy, 45'), Gal-Andrezly (Purcell, 45'), Amond (Baker, 49) & O’Connor (Twigg, 71').

1 - Real Madrid: Dudek, Torres (Salgado, 45'), Marcelo (Drenthe, 45'), Pepe (Heinze, 45'), Metzelder (Garay, 45'), Gago (Parejo, 45'), Lass (Tebar, 63'), Guti (Sneijder, 45'), Cristiano Ronaldo (Van der Vaart, 45'), Raul (Benzema, 45') & Higuain (Negredo, 45')

Goals: 0-1, 87': Benzema.

Go to Photo Gallery of Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo's first Real Madrid Match.

Miguel Torres : Cristiano Ronaldo is a hard worker, the first to arrive and the last to leave.

Real Madrid defender Miguel Torres admits that he's been amazed by the power of new teammate Cristiano Ronaldo in their first week of preseason training.

Torres said: "Cristiano Ronaldo strikes me as not the same on TV as in person. He is a hard worker, the first to arrive and the last to leave.

"He has shooting power I've not seen since Roberto Carlos left, and running with the ball, along with Messi he is the best in the world.

"Let the games begin so people talk about how good he is and not what he cost."

Day 4 in Ireland : Real Madrid Preseason Training Photo Gallery (Pictures)

The players took the pitch at 8:00 am and did several resistance exercises for an hour. Pellegrini's goal is to divide the strenous work the squad is carrying out to avoid injuries and too much strain. This is why the players were allowed to rest before their second session.

The players took the pitch at 11:00, where many fans were waiting to see them in action. Strengthening exercises and workouts to boost explosiveness took centre stage after a mild warm-up jog. The players also lifted weights and tackled several drills that focused on changes in pace.

Wesley Sneijder rejoined his team-mates after missing yesterday's session. The Dutchman has been having trouble all year due to the serious injury he suffered from during the previous preseason and the Medical Staff has determined he should do specific exercises to overcome these problems.

Diarra and Van Nistelrooy again did recovery workouts, while Miguel Palanca stayed in the small gym on the pitch recovering from the sprain on his external lateral ligament.

Real Madrid pre season training Photos in Maynooth Ireland (Cristiano Ronaldo Pictures)

Real Madrid pre season training Photosin Maynooth Ireland (Pictures)

Real Madrid players opened training Tuesday in rainy Ireland, less than a week before the Spanish team plays Shamrock Rovers in a friendly.

Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini also gave Spain internationals Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos the week off for the same reason. But Madrid brought more than 30 players to Ireland and have taken over an entire floor of Carton House, a 17th-century mansion that once housed earls and dukes.

Here are the photos of first training session of Real Madrid in Maynooth.