Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane has indicated that Cristiano Ronaldo is “100 per cent” ahead of the clubs’ Champions League semi-final second leg with Manchester City.
Ronaldo has sat out the previous three matches – against Rayo Vallecano, City and Real Sociedad – owing to a thigh muscle strain, but appears to have proven his fitness ahead of Real’s crucial encounter.
There was some bad news for the Madrid boss, however, as he confirmed that Casemiro and Karim Benzema have been ruled out of the clash.
“Cristiano is 100 per cent, but Benzema and Casemiro are different,” Zidane told a media conference ahead of the game.
“I’d have liked to have Casemiro and Benzema, but it is not like that, others will play and they will do well. Karim today still had an issue, and we did not want to take any risks.”
When asked whether his central midfielder was definitely ruled out of the match, the Frenchman stated he hoped the Brazilian would still be involved.
“Casemiro is Casemiro, but we have other players who can do same work as he does. (It is) not a (serious) injury, but he had bruise and did not train today. We have a big enough squad to cover.”
Real have fared well in the absence of their star striker Ronaldo, securing back to back wins domestically but looked off the pace against City at the Etihad without the Portugal international.
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