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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