(Updates Real injury news, adds Puyol quotes)
MADRID, Nov 21 - Brief news from the Primera Liga
ahead of this weekend's matches:
* Atletico Madrid's Argentina striker Sergio Aguero returned
to training on Thursday after flying back from Glasgow on
Tuesday to be with his partner Giannina Maradona, who had minor
complications with her pregnancy, the club said.
Aguero missed the debut of Giannina's father, Diego
Maradona, as coach of the national side in their match against
Scotland, which Argentina won 1-0. Atletico, in sixth place in
the league, play at Numancia on Sunday (1600 GMT).
* Sevilla's in-form striker Luis Fabiano hopes to add to his
goals tally when the club host third-placed Valencia on Saturday
(2100).
"I want to score on Saturday and hopefully our good run will
continue," he said on the club's website (www.sevillafc.es)
after returning from international duty with Brazil. Sevilla are
in fifth place with 23 points from 11 matches, five behind
leaders Barcelona.
* Osasuna's new signing, defender Sergio Fernandez, said the
bottom-placed club could still rescue their season and urged his
team mates to think positively.
"Looking at the standings you can see there are problems,"
Fernandez said on the club's website (www.osasuna.es). "It's a
difficult situation but the players are good enough to get
through it. It's important to be upbeat."
Winless Osasuna, who have just five points from 11 matches
and host Almeria on Sunday (1600), signed Fernandez as a
replacement for Roversio, who is out for the rest of the season
after damaging his right knee.
* Real Madrid central defender Fabio Cannavaro strained a
groin in training and will miss the Spanish champions' home
match against Recreativo Huelva on Saturday (1900), the club
said on their website (www.realmadrid.com).
However, the Italian's defensive partner Pepe is back from a
thigh injury and, with Gabriel Heinze suspended after last
weekend's red card, will be partnered by also fit-again
Christoph Metzelder.
Midfielder Mahamadou Diarra has also been out of action with
a leg injury. He was on the bench for Mali on Wednesday but
might not be fit for Saturday, Real said.
* Real striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, out for the season after
having knee surgery in the United States, has returned to Madrid
and will begin his recuperation in the coming days, the club
said.
Midfielder Ruben de la Red, who collapsed in a King's Cup
match last month, is hoping to be playing again in around two
weeks, As newspaper reported.
* Barcelona captain Carles Puyol said the Primera Liga
leaders will have to be on their guard against Getafe, who have
a good record away from home, on Sunday at the Nou Camp (1800).
"It's a team we have found difficult to beat recently and we
need to be alert," Puyol said on the club's website
(www.fcbarcelona.com). "It will be a hard match and we will have
to concentrate."
(Reporting by Iain Rogers; Editing by Clare Fallon)