Real Madrid stars miss the team bus

Dec 1, 2012 1:10:00 PM

Five first team players had to seek alternative transport after the club coach departed without them, with defender Alvaro Arbeloa coming to the rescue

Jose Mourinho ordered the Real Madrid team bus to leave without a host of his key men after they arrived late for their scheduled departure ahead of Saturday's clash with Atletico Madrid.

The players were told to be at the Santiago Bernabeu for 20:45 before heading to their pre-match hotel, but Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Fabio Coentrao, Pepe and Alvaro Arbeloa were all absent as they were stuck in traffic.

The Portuguese opted to leave without them and the five stars joined up with their team-mates later on after hitching a ride in Alvaro Arbeloa's car.

Madrid host their fierce local rivals in El Derbi Madrileno at the Bernabeu on Saturday evening and the former Inter coach has selected 19 players in his squad for the clash.

Blancos currently trail Diego Simeone's side by eight points, with the visitors winning 11 of their first 13 games. In contrast Mourinho's men have made a slow start to the campaign and have tasted victory eight times in La Liga this term.