Ancelotti confirms Ronaldo absence
Portuguese star won’t be risked against Galatasaray after weekend injury
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Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed Cristiano Ronaldo will miss his side’s Champions League encounter at home to Galatasaray on Wednesday due to a hamstring injury.
The Portuguese was forced off with the injury in Real’s 5- 0 win over Almeria on Saturday and will miss a chance to break the Champions League record for the number of goals scored by one player in the group stage.
Ronaldo has found the net eight times in just four European appearances this season, tying the record held by Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Filippo Inzaghi and Hernan Crespo.
However, Ancelotti is hopeful his star man will be fit to face Valladolid in La Liga on Saturday.
Single point
“Cristiano cannot play tomorrow because of a small injury. Tomorrow I think he will start training on the pitch again individually and we will see if he will be available for Saturday,” the Italian said.
“It is just a strain, but he is very confident about being able to play on Saturday. We won’t take any risks with him because afterwards we have a Copa del Rey match in which he is suspended, but if he is fine then he will play.”
Ancelotti also indicated that Ronaldo’s absence won’t affect the positioning of Gareth Bale on the right of the Madrid attack, where he has begun to find form with four goals in his last five games.
“I don’t think he will change. I prefer him on the right so that he can shoot. I prefer the wingers to be able to come inside.”
Madrid need just a point to mathematically secure their place in the last 16 and ensure they finish top of the group.
But, having scored 22 goals in their last five games, Ancelotti wants to finish the group with a flourish.