MADRID, Spain (AP) _ David Beckham will play for Real Madrid at
Zaragoza on Saturday despite a left ankle injury.
``I'm going to travel to Zaragoza and I'm going to play,''
Beckham, who did not train with the team Friday, told sports daily
Marca.
Beckham could win his first major trophy with Madrid if the team
beats Zaragoza _ and FC Barcelona and Sevilla lose _ this weekend.
Madrid leads two-time defending champion Barcelona on head-to-head
results. Both have 72 points, two more than Sevilla, with two games
to go.
The England midfielder was hit on the ankle early in his team's
European Championship qualifying win over Estonia.
``It hurts but I want to play,'' Beckham said.
Madrid coach Fabio Capello said at a press conference that
Beckham had not gone full speed at Friday's training but that he
should be fit for the game.
``Today he didn't do a technical training, he only jogged,'' said
Capello.
Madrid is chasing its record 30th Spanish league title _ and its
first major trophy in four years.
``I hope he gets better. David wants to play the last two matches
that he has left with Real Madrid, and I know he will, with that
mind-set,'' Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy said.
After the season, Beckham will head to the United States to play
for the Los Angeles Galaxy.
``Beckham has been very important for us down the home stretch
and he wants to leave here with a title. It would be a dream come
true for all of us,'' Van Nistelrooy added.
Capello said Beckham's performance in his two games back with
England _ the win against Estonia and a drawn friendly against
Brazil _ was on par with his recent games for the Spanish club.
``It seemed to me he played just like he's been playing with Real
Madrid,'' Capello said. ``He was important in those two matches
because for that second goal (against Estonia) he made an
extraordinary cross.''
Capello said Zaragoza will also be under pressure in Saturday's
match, as the club needs a win to qualify for the UEFA Cup next
season.
``They won't be relaxed so that'll make for a tough match for
both teams,'' he said. ``Psychologically it'll be the same for both
sides.''
