Cristiano Ronaldo will miss Real Madrid’s La Liga match against Real Sociedad on Saturday with a knee injury. Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti insists that it isn’t a problem, but concern is growing that Los Blancos could be without their free scoring talisman in the season run in. Rumours are circulating around Madrid that his injury is worse than initially thought.
Every league match is of vital importance now. With only three points separating the three teams at the summit, every dropped point can make a huge difference. Real Sociedad themselves are in fine form, and are trying to chase down Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla for a Champion’s League spot. Tomorrow’s match is certainly no foregone conclusion.
Ancelotti has stated that he is only resting Ronaldo in preparation for their return match against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday, but that match is surely already won. If Ancelotti had to prioritise a match, logic dictates that it would have been the encounter with Sociedad. So is there another reason for the Portuguese star’s absence?
Ronaldo received a knee injury when playing against German side Schalke in mid March. Anceloti has subsequently said that it was just a minor annoyance, but if Ronaldo begins to miss matches regularly it could be a sign that they are nursing him through to the end of the season. With a World Cup trip to Brazil looming, an injury could also devastate the start of real Madrid’s next season.
The form of Gareth Bale will help to alleviate some of the worries. He has hit top gear now, and has finally blossomed into the world class player that he always threatened to be when at Tottenham. If Ronaldo is out for an extended period, then it’s the Welsh maestro who could grab the opportunity to show that he deserves the tag of the world’s most expensive player.