Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo faces a race against time to be fit for the Champions League semifinal second leg with Manchester City next week.
Ronaldo was surprisingly omitted from the squad for Wednesday's (NZT) first leg in Manchester an hour before kick-off. Coach Zinedine Zidane explained after the goalless draw that Ronaldo felt a recurrence of a thigh strain a day earlier in training.
Ronaldo was photographed entering a private clinic in Madrid the following day for tests and according to Spanish press reports he has not torn the muscle, but will be unavailable against Real Sociedad on Saturday.
Until injuring his thigh against Villarreal last week, Ronaldo had started every game in La Liga and the Champions League, but is now set to miss a third game in a row.
The former Manchester United forward is the top scorer in the Champions League with 16 goals in 10 games and has 31 goals in La Liga, three fewer than leading marksman Luis Suarez.
Ronaldo's mother Dolores Aveiro said she was hopeful he would be fit for the semi-final second leg in Madrid.
"He's doing well, he's not 100 per cent, he's about 80 per cent, I think he'll make it next week," she said at the launch of her autobiography in Madrid on Wednesday.
Madrid striker Karim Benzema is also doubtful for the trip to Real Sociedad after being substituted before half-time with a hip problem. The Frenchman was forced off during Madrid's 3-2 win at Rayo Vallecano last week with a hamstring injury.
Reuters
