Real Madrid has been one of the best clubs across all levels of competition this year and now the team will be playing an important UEFA Champions League match on Wednesday against Galatasaray at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu and the match will start up at 2:45 pm ET and it will be missing some star power with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo was banged up against Almeria in La Liga last weekend and that is a big loss for the team, as he is out for Wednesday's match against Galatasaray and the team is planning on giving him time to recover so he can get back quickly. The schedule isn't too intense heading into the back stretch of the year and that makes the injury sting a bit less and he could be out for multiple weeks according to reports from ESPNFC.com, but they will surely miss his scoring. As usual, Ronaldo has been excellent, scoring over 30 goals in 22 games this season and now he will be out for the next group match and that means he will also miss the next La Liga match as well as the Champions League game against FC Copenhagen and that matchup will be away at the Parkstadion in December.
Ronaldo has scored 17 goals in 14 games in La Liga play this season and even though Ronaldo will be out for the match on Wednesday, Real is ready to play aggressive on offense. Ronaldo has been banged up at various times this season, but he has been able to overcome it and now they hope he will have a speedy recovery.
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In La Liga play last week, Cristiano Ronaldo fired Real Madrid ahead before going off injured as they cruised to a 5-0 win at Almeria to remain six points adrift of leaders Barcelona who defeated Granada 4-0 earlier on Saturday and now the team will be in Champions League action.
Atletico Madrid then played their part in a day of big wins for the teams at the top of the table when Raul Garcia and David Villa scored two goals apiece to help Atletico Madrid retain a strong hold on second spot with a 7-0 win over 10-man Getafe.
Ronaldo struck after three minutes but the game was still in the balance when he limped off early in the second half. Karim Benzema settled Real's nerves by curling home the second on 61 minutes before Gareth Bale, Isco and Alvaro Morata consigned Almeria to a resounding defeat.
The main concern was the extent of the leg strain for Ronaldo, who has bagged 14 goals in seven games including four for Portugal in their triumphant two-legged World Cup playoff win over Sweden. Real pressed Almeria in a storming start and it did not take long for them to go in front as Isco sent Ronaldo through with a searching ball from the right.
Almeria set out to defend deeply with five at the back, a system that has brought them success in recent games, but Real's quality in attack proved too much.
The home side were dangerous on the break with Suso curling a shot just round the post while Benzema headed wide at the other end before a fine run from Ronaldo ended with his shot being saved by Esteban Suarez. Following the restart, Ronaldo went off holding his leg after battling for the ball with Alex Vidal. The game had turned scrappy but Benzema produced a fine goal and from there Almeria's heads dropped.
Bale robbed Sebastian Dubarbier to get on the scoresheet before Isco and Morata completed the rout. "It was a good game as we didn't concede," Ancelotti added. "We played well together and we need to continue this way."
Despite the ease of his side's victory Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino was forced to defend his tactics after the match. Injury-plagued Barca continued to set the pace after first-half penalties by Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas set them up for victory.
Visiting Granada had Manuel Iturra dismissed after 66 minutes before Alexis Sanchez and Pedro completed the rout for the champions, who were missing a string of players including Lionel Messi, Xavi and keeper Victor Valdes.
Barcelona have 40 points from 14 games and a three-point lead over Atletico Madrid, with city rivals Real a further three points adrift after Saturday's action.
(Reuters)
