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Real Madrid sure knows how to draw a crowd.

More than 18,000 fans filed BMO Field Thursday night to catch a glimpse of soccer royalty and watch the Spanish club practise ahead of its exhibition game against Toronto FC on Friday.

Rabid soccer spectators hooted and hollered at the top of their lungs, especially every time reigning FIFA world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo touched the ball, as los Galacticos strolled through their paces during the 55-minute training session.

Afterwards, Real Madrid players kicked souvenir balls into the stands, much to the delight of the adoring fans.

"It was totally worth the [$15] price of tickets to see them practise," one fan told CBCSports.ca.

Friday evening's game between the nine-time champions of Europe and Toronto FC is billed as an international friendly, but newly hired Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini views the contest as a vital test for his team as it prepares for the start of the Spanish league season, set to kick off on Aug. 30.

"It's an opportunity to evaluate the new players and it gives them a chance to adapt to each other, to gel and develop the right understanding between each other," the Chilean tactician said through a translator.

Indeed, los Blancos have been busy this summer, spending close to $400 million in transfer fees on a host of new players, including Ronaldo, Kaka, Xabi Alonso, Karim Benzema and Alvaro Arbeloa.

Last season a disappointment

That massive financial outlay came in response to a disappointing 2008-09 season for Madrid, which finished a respectable second place in the Spanish first division, but crashed out of the Champions League in the second round following a humiliating loss to Liverpool.

What's more, Madrid had to watch in horror as bitter rivals FC Barcelona recorded a historical treble, winning the Spanish league championship and Spanish Cup, as well as being crowned champions of Europe.

Pellegrini was brought in during the off-season, replacing Juande Ramos (who himself replaced former coach Bernd Schuster last December) and charged with the responsibility to lead Madrid back to the top of the heap in Spain and in the Champions League, which they last won in 2002.

Winning isn't enough, though, as Pellegrini admitted that it's just as important for Real Madrid to win with style, and play an attacking and entertaining brand of soccer.

"The first challenge is to win. If you accept the responsibility of coaching Real Madrid, you have to win every competition you play in," the Chilean said. "The other challenge is the responsibility of playing a style of soccer that will allow us to satisfy and entertain the fans each week."