Real Madrid's preparations for this weekend's La Liga showdown against Espanyol are heating up, with the team completing their third training session of the week at Valdebebas. All eyes are on Sunday night's clash at the RCDE Stadium (21:00 CET), and the intensity is building as matchday approaches.

The session followed a familiar rhythm: players kicked off with warm-ups and rondos before diving into possession drills capped with finishing sequences. Training wrapped up with a small-sided game on a compact pitch—a classic drill to sharpen decision-making and intensity in tight spaces.

The biggest talking point was Thibaut Courtois, who joined parts of the session with the group. The Belgian shot-stopper's gradual reintegration is a welcome sight for Madridistas, as he works toward a potential return for the highly anticipated El Clásico on May 10. That date is clearly circled on his calendar.

However, don't expect Courtois to feature against Espanyol. The same goes for Kylian Mbappé, who is also targeting the Clásico but won't be in Álvaro Arbeloa's plans this weekend. Mbappé trained solo in the gym, joined by Éder Militão, Arda Güler, and Rodrygo, all of whom are still recovering. Among that group, Rodrygo's timeline appears the longest.

Courtois' partial return to group work was the only real surprise in an otherwise routine session, with the rest of the squad continuing preparations without major changes. For fans tracking the team's fitness, it's a small but significant step forward.

Madrid will return to training on Friday at 11:00 a.m. for their penultimate session before heading to Barcelona on Sunday morning to face Espanyol. Stay tuned for more updates as the squad gears up for another crucial La Liga battle.