In the midst of the injury crisis ravaging Valdebebas, there is one player who has nothing to worry about. His medical history is immaculate. He has never missed a game through injury and has barely sat out a training session since the start of his professional career. His name is Nacho Fernández.

The home-grown player joined Real Madrid in June 2001, and there is no record of him picking up any injuries since he played for the under-14s and suffered an ankle problem. Twelve years have passed since then, the last four in the first team, although he helped out Castilla in the first of those. He has always been available.

Regardless of whether he is playing more regularly - like now, having played in five games, three of them for the full 90 minutes - or whether he is performing a supporting role as in previous seasons, he has always been on hand at training to maintain the fitness which he needs when he is called on.

Perhaps that is one of the reasons why he has never sustained an injury during his time in the first team. Nacho is hugely respectful of the life a professional must lead. He is meticulous about his diet, rest and preparation.