UCL Preview - Real hopes to upset Man. City with Ronaldo return News

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UCL Preview - Real hopes to upset Man. City with Ronaldo return

By Daily Sports on May 4, 2016

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo is fit to face Manchester City in the Champions League semi-final second leg on Wednesday.

The competition's all-time top scorer - with 93 goals - missed the goalless first leg with a hamstring strain.

"Cristiano is OK, 100%. He trained this morning and will be there tomorrow," said Real boss Zinedine yesterday.

City midfielder Yaya Toure also trained on Tuesday having missed the past two games with a thigh injury.

Ineligible midfielder Samir Nasri, forward David Silva (hamstring) and defender Pablo Zabaleta were absent.

Argentina international Zabaleta later said he had torn a muscle in his left calf and would be out for about three weeks.

Ronaldo, who also sat out his team's past two La Liga games, completed a full training session on Monday for the first time since being injured on 20 April.

The former Manchester United forward, 31, has netted 47 goals in all competitions this season and is the leading scorer in the Champions League with 16, one shy of his record from Real's victorious 2013-14 campaign.

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini warned his side had more to worry about than just Ronaldo.

"Cristiano will always be a different player. He scores a lot of goals and has throughout his six years here," said the Chilean, who managed Real when the club signed Ronaldo.

But he added: "I don't think Real are just Cristiano Ronaldo. We must work as a team defending and attacking. It is not just against Ronaldo but against Real Madrid."

He also stressed the Spanish side would have to contend with City's attacking threat, highlighting 28-goal Sergio Aguero.

The Argentina international was rested for City's 4-2 defeat at Southampton on Sunday and Pellegrini said: "I always say these kind of games are decided by the best technical players. We have Sergio and I am sure we will see him in a good performance."

Real forward Karim Benzema could only do running work on Monday and the France international is still a doubt with a hamstring problem.

•Culled from bbc.com. Photo shows Cristiano Ronaldo.

Source Daily Sports

Posted May 4, 2016