MADRID - Julio Baptista is raring to get back to action in Wednesday's Champions League game against Olympiacos after his brush with Real Madrid's moral code last week.
The forward, along with Brazil team-mate Robinho, was axed from the weekend defeat at Espanyol for returning late from international duty and missing Friday's training session.
Reports subsequently claimed the duo were late because they were partying in Rio de Janeiro in the wake of Brazil's 5-0 thrashing of Ecuador - speculation that riled coach Bernd Schuster.
He said: "It's something that we don't like at all. We are very focused on these things disappearing. We will have to speak to him and ask his version of events."
Baptista, however, insists the issue is now resolved.
He said: "We have already spoken to our coach and everything has been clarified.
"It's true that from now on we should have more communication so that this doesn't happen.
"I am looking forward to playing the next game. It was painful to see the defeat against Espanyol on Saturday. When your team lose you want to play as soon as possible to help the team bounce back."
Central defender Fabio Cannavaro and midfielder Mahamadou Diarra are doubtful as both are struggling with knee injuries, while Madrid will also be without Gabriel Heinze and Arjen Robben, who picked up injuries on international duty, and Pepe.
Schuster said: "On one side we are very happy and proud that the majority of our team plays for their national teams. It's a good sign but there's always a risk of injuries and this time we have been unlucky."
Olympiacos go into the game in fine fettle after a 4-1 demolition of Panionios at the weekend.
The Greek champions made a real breakthrough with their victory over Werder Bremen which was their first-ever away success in the Champions League after 31 winless games on the road in Europe's premier club competition.
Olympiacos beat Real when they met in the Champions League in 2005 but the result came in a game where Real had already secured qualification for the knockout phase of the tournament.
The game will doubtless be an emotional one for Raul Bravo who left Real for Greece in the summer after playing 23 Champions League matches for the Spanish champions.
Victory for either side at the Bernabeu stadium would be a major step towards qualification for the winners as it would give them outright leadership of a group also featuring Lazio and Bremen.
Coach Panagiotis Lemonis said: "We haven't got much time ahead in order to prepare for the encounter in Madrid though we are travelling to Spain with one goal: to enter the dressing room after the match and know deep inside that we have given our all, whatever the outcome."
