Real’s woes over Ronaldo’s fitness concern have eased after he returned to training yesterday as they aim to overturn an identical scoreline from 1975. PHOTO: AFP
Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo is fit for today’s Champions League semi-final second-leg at home to Borussia Dortmund, after missing their La Liga win over Atletico Madrid through injury, said coach Jose Mourinho.
The Portugal international, top scorer in the latest edition of Europe’s elite club competition with 12 goals, returned to training with his teammates yesterday after sitting out Saturday’s 2-1 La Liga victory.
He had damaged a thigh muscle in last week’s 4-1 defeat in Dortmund.
Even with a fit Ronaldo, Real face a stiff task against the Bundesliga side if they are to keep alive their bid for the 10th European crown that has eluded them since 2002.
“Cristiano is fine to play tomorrow,” said Mourinho at a news conference previewing today’s game.
The Portuguese added that he has a full squad to choose from, apart from injured fullbacks Alvaro Arbeloa and Marcelo.
Meanwhile, midfielder Angel Di Maria believes Jose Mourinho’s men can take heart from the way in which they started last season’s semi-final, second-leg against Bayern Munich.
“We have a great chance of going through,” Di Maria told reporters.
“Last year, against Bayern, we started well and were 2-0 up. We hope that this year we can turn it around, but we need to give everything. In football anything can happen.”
The other side of the story
Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp made 10 changes on Saturday to the team that beat Real, but they lacked none of their usual spark as they eased past Fortuna Duesseldorf 2-1.
“With 10 changes it was not very easy but we are pros and need to accept it,” said captain Sebastian Kehl. “We wanted to win to secure second spot and fill up on confidence ahead of Tuesday [today].”
Dortmund, who last week made sure of a Champions League group spot for next season, are looking to reach their first final since winning the trophy in 1997.
Klopp will have a full squad to choose from with midfielder Nuri Sahin’s Saturday showing, which included the first goal, possibly earning him a starting spot against the team he joined from Dortmund in 2011.
“People had been saying for weeks there is only one team in Germany that can rotate and still win games,” said club CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke, in reference to fellow semi-finalists Bayern Munich, who are 4-0 up going into their second-leg against Barcelona tomorrow.
“I am delighted that it has now worked for us twice in a row and to be able to show people that we have players who can do it.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 30th, 2013.
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