Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale are both fit to start Saturday's Clasico against Barcelona, while playing down the "must-win" nature of the game with his team 11 points behind the La Liga leaders.
Ronaldo was unable to train with his teammates on his return from scoring the winning goal in Saturday's Club World Cup final victory over Gremio due to a calf issue, but took part in the public part of Friday's prematch session at Valdebebas.
The week has also brought further debate over the 32-year-old's long-term future at Madrid, amid a public disagreement with club president Florentino Perez over whether the five-time Ballon d'Or winner deserves a pay rise.
Zidane told his prematch news conference that Ronaldo had come through training fine and was available to start, while all contract issues were being parked until after the winter break.
"Cristiano is good, at 100 percent," Zidane said. "He trained today, and that is what interests me. I will not talk about other things, we are only interested in tomorrow's game, all of us. What Cristiano has done, everything, he deserves total respect from the club, and he gets it. After the holidays there will be more talk about all this."
Zidane also said he has no concerns about starting fit-again Gareth Bale, who also came back from injury to begin last April's La Liga Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu, but limped off before half-time in a game Madrid lost 3-2.
"I trust completely in my players, which is the most important, the communication," Zidane said. "What happened with Gareth [in April] can happen with any player. The important thing, for me, is that the player thinks he is 100 percent ready to play. Gareth is now. We will see tomorrow if he does."
Madrid go into Saturday's game at the Bernabeu 11 points behind Barca, albeit having played a game less.
Zidane denied that a defeat would leave his side having to focus on the cup competitions after the winter break, saying his team were looking forward to the challenge of cutting the gap.
"Whatever happens tomorrow we will keep working, knowing this is very long," he said. "Tomorrow is three more points, but it will not [decide] anything. We have dropped some points but this is still very long and we can recover.
"It will be the most difficult game of the season. Barca vs. Madrid are always very difficult games, but the players play for these type of games. To win a league there is the whole year, but Madrid vs. Barca, the players always think of this date, and we are ready to play it.
"There is no nerves among us, it does not matter if it is 11, 5, 20 points. What we can control is our own game tomorrow, and we will have to play a great game against a very good team. All games are really finals, but it is always about staying relaxed and playing your football."
Zidane said that Barca deserved their current lead in the standings, while declining to comment on whether he thought their style of play this season was not as convincing as in previous campaigns.
"Barca are top of the table, that is a fact, and there is a reason for that," he said. "I cannot say if they are playing good or bad. We are coming from behind, and trying to cut the gap a bit tomorrow. But what is most important to me is that if we play well ourselves, play football, we can do damage to any team."
A question about whether Barca's players would provide a guard of honour for the Club World Cup champions before the match, a hot topic in some local media coverage this week, was dismissed by the Madrid boss.
"I am not interested in these things, not at all," Zidane said. "I am just interested in the game, the players, the fans also."