Savio sidelined for Madrid

Flavio declared fit
Savio suffered a partial ligament tear in his right ankle and the Brazilian international's setback provides a downside to the good news that Flavio Conceição has been declared fit after making a successful recovery from an achilles tendon injury last October. The midfielder has been included in the squad for Wednesday's Copa del Rey quarter-final second leg against Rayo Vallecano, a tie Madrid enter with a 4-0 first-leg lead. 

Just four appearances
As for Savio, the injury means another spell on the sidelines for a player who has made just four appearances as a substitute in the Primera División this term. "It is a shame, because I was really looking forward to getting back into action," Savio said.

Academy in Barcelona
Meanwhile, Madrid have taken the unlikely step of choosing the city of Barcelona as the venue for their first football academy outside the Spanish capital. The home of arch-rivals FC Barcelona was chosen as the base for the project because of the high level of support enjoyed by the Merengues in the region.

Butragueño 'honoured'
Former Madrid striker Emilio Butragueño said at the inauguration of the academy: "It is an honour for someone from Real Madrid to come to Barcelona to inaugurate a football academy. The development of such academies is important for the club and it is particularly important in Catalonia because of the number of supporters we have here."