Ronaldo fit and aiming to fire Real past Dortmund

Cristiano Ronaldo will be fit to terrorise Borussia Dortmund’s defence today despite a niggle in his knee, and build on Real ‘3-0 first leg advantage to book a spot in the Champions League last four.

Real coach Carlo Ancelotti rested the Champions League top scorer for Saturday’s 4-0 La Liga win at Real Sociedad that helped them keep pace with leaders Atletico Madrid and second-placed champions Barcelona.

The Portugal captain, who has a record-equaling 14 goals this season in Europe’s elite club competition, has complained of discomfort in his left knee but Ancelotti said he should be available for the second leg in Germany after a few days’ rest and treatment.

Ronaldo made his 100th Champions League appearance in the first leg at the Bernabeu and his goal matched Lionel Messi’s single-season record set in 2011/12.

Ronaldo’s overall tally in the Champions League is 64 goals, three behind Barcelona’s Messi, and he has 54 in his last 44 outings for Real and Portugal, including five hat-tricks.

Real have a slight doubt over the fitness of record signing Gareth Bale after he sustained a small gash to his right knee in Saturday’s win in San Sebastian.

The Wales winger, who scored with a brilliant longrange strike to make it 2-0, needed a couple of stitches in the wound, local media reported. Ancelotti did not sound too concerned at his post-match press conference.