Madrid, May 3 (IANS) Real Madrid’s star striker Cristiano Ronaldo is fit to face Manchester City in the Champions League football semi-final second leg clash on Wednesday, according to head coach Zinedine Zidane.
The former Manchester United forward has missed Real’s last three games – including the goalless draw in the first leg at the Etihad Stadium last week – with a thigh injury.
But he returned to training on Sunday and has since played a full part in training ahead of Wednesday’s second clash at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, leaving Zidane convinced he is ready to return.
“Cristiano is okay. He is 100 per cent. He trained this morning and he will be there tomorrow. The whole week, little by little, Ronaldo has been recovering. That’s how it is with this player,” Zidane was quoted as saying by Sky Sports on Tuesday.
“He’s very quick and he looks after himself a lot.”
The Portugal international is the top scorer in this season’s Champions League with 16 goals from 10 appearances and his return for Wednesday’s second leg represents a huge boost for Real.
Prior to his injury, Ronaldo had played every minute in this season’s La Liga, scoring 31 times in the process.
The game comes too soon for fellow striker Karim Benzema and midfielder Casimero, though, as they are not fit and will not be risked.
Benzema has a hamstring problem and Casimero suffered a knock in the 1-0 win over Real Sociedad In La Liga on Saturday.
“Karim and Case are different. Karim still had a doubt and we don’t want to risk it, and the same goes for Case,” the head coach said.
“It is not an injury, just a bit of a problem, but we have another squad list and so everybody else can play,” Zidane added.