Cristiano Ronaldo will play no part in Real Madrid's home clash with Real Valladolid on Saturday as coach Carlo Ancelotti
opts to take no risks with the Portuguese star's fitness. Ronaldo
missed Wednesday's 4-1 UEFA Champions League win against Galatasaray at
the Santiago Bernabeu with a hamstring problem and, while he has now
returned to training, Ancelotti believes now is the ideal time to give
him a rest.
"He has had a scan and the
muscle has completely recovered but he is not so comfortable. He has not
trained much so we don't want to take any risk because he has two weeks
to work and prepare for the next league game," Ancelotti told press
ahead of Saturday's meeting with a Valladolid side who are hovering just
above the relegation zone in Spain's La Liga.
Ronaldo
is suspended for the Copa del Rey tie against third-tier side Olimpic
de Xativa next weekend and is unlikely to feature against FC Copenhagen
in Madrid's final Champions League Group B game on 10 December with the
Spaniards already having won their section. He is therefore not set to
return until the trip to Osasuna scheduled for 14 December.
Angel
Di Maria is again set to start on the left of the Madrid attack on
Saturday as Ancelotti's side look to provisionally close the gap on
leaders Barcelona to three points before the Catalans visit Athletic
Bilbao on Sunday. Meanwhile, Ancelotti believes that Gareth Bale has now integrated fully into the Madrid side.
The
Welshman has scored five goals in six games since struggling in the 2-1
defeat to Barcelona at the end of October, that run including a
magnificent free-kick against Galatasaray on Wednesday.
"I
think the integration of Bale is complete. He is playing well at the
moment, without problems," said Ancelotti. "He is scoring goals and
linking well with the forwards. I see no problem with him. I think he
can get even better. I think all the players realise that he has talent
and helps the team."
