Ronaldo to miss 1st league game of season as Real eyes City clash
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REAL Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo was described as “untouchable” by his manager Zinedine Zidane who confirmed the Portuguese will miss his first La Liga match of the season at Rayo Vallecano today.
The Spanish club’s all-time leading scorer, Ronaldo played all 34 league games and 10 Champions League matches in the campaign before straining a thigh muscle in the 3-0 win over Villarreal on Wednesday.
He sits out the Rayo game to ensure he will be fit for Tuesday’s Champions League semifinal first leg against Manchester City.
“Cristiano is untouchable because his numbers demonstrate that he deserves to be untouchable,” Zidane told a news conference yesterday.
“You always have to speak to the players, and you think that at times a player needs to rest, but he rests when he doesn’t play and he plays really well.
“He wanted to play tomorrow but he knows he can’t. He felt something in the last game and now we have to bear in mind Tuesday’s game.”
Zidane said Ronaldo, who has 47 goals this season, always wanted to play every game.
“He doesn’t have to rest, although when he plays lots of games together he is more tired. Cristiano wants to play and that’s something I really value and respect.”
Gareth Bale missed the Villarreal match through injury but the Wales forward will face 16th-placed Rayo.
Real trails league leader Barcelona and second-place Atletico Madrid by one point with four rounds left.
Real will be favored against Rayo. It has won eight straight league matches and has beaten Rayo in their last 12 meetings.
Atletico, a title rival in both the Spanish league and Champions League, also has an injury problem. The club said yesterday that center back Diego Godin had injured a muscle in his right leg. “Godin suffered a grade I-II muscle injury in his right hamstring,” Atletico said in a statement, without specifying how long the Uruguayan international will be sidelined.
Atletico plays Malaga at home today, and then hosts Bayern Munich in the Champions League semifinals on Wednesday.
Godin’s regular partner in defense, Jose Gimenez, will return for the match against Malaga after an injury layoff.
“We have players who are playing well and are motivated,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said. “I hope Diego recovers soon, but we will go on with the players we have.”
The Vicente Calderon has already sold out for Bayern’s visit in what will be just the second European Cup semifinal for Atletico in 42 years.
However, Simeone is determined that his players not be distracted by their looming clash with the German giants as he targets a second La Liga title in three years. “Tomorrow we are playing a very important game ahead of a fantastic end to the season,” added the Argentine. “We need to be prepared solely for that.”
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