CR7 puts his nose to the grindstone

Cristiano Ronaldo is looking to hard work to get through his lean spell in front of goal. Or, better put, more hard work. The Portuguese star is going flat out at Valdebebas in a bid to whip his body into absolute optimum shape. On Wednesday he worked up a sweat in the gym, while on Thursday he took to the turf with his teammates and then stayed behind to put in an extra shift. He is determined to get back to scoring ways as soon as possible and believes further enhancing his physical conditioning can help him rediscover the edge that has been missing.

It often falls to Real Madrid's third-string goalkeeper, Rubén Yáñez, to feel the force of CR7 after training sessions. Even at the best of times, the forward is constantly honing his marksmanship and loves nothing more than to pepper goalies with shots from all angles in order to keep improving and stay in the groove. Ronaldo is never satisfied - all the less so right now, when he hasn't found the net in several weeks.

Cristiano looked sharp in training on Thursday, as epitomised by a sensational piece of skill he produced to escape the attentions of Pepe. The move did not end in a goal because Kiko Casilla - with whom Ronaldo had some mighty battles in the meetings with Espanyol in the past couple of seasons - pulled off a save of the highest order. Naturally, the attacker was vexed, but it only strengthened his resolve to further double down in pursuit of his best form.

Everyone at Real Madrid is convinced that once Ronaldo gets one goal, more will follow in the manner we have become accustomed to – in bucketfuls.