Cristiano Ronaldo is in danger of missing the derby game against Atletico Madrid following his sending off in the win at Cordoba over the weekend.
The Portuguese kicked out at Edimar seven minutes from time in the 2-1 victory at the Nuevo Arcangel and earned a straight red card, one which he could pay dearly for with a three-match ban looking a distinct possibility.
According to Marca, Madrid officials believe it will be two, yet if it is three he will miss the key fixtures against Real Sociedad, Sevilla and Atletico.
However, the club’s legal team are set to use a precedent set in similar circumstances to Ronaldo’s sending off from December, when Valencia’s Rodrigo was dismissed in a Copa del Rey game tie against Rayo Vallecano for kicking out at an opponent.
The referee’s report stated he was sent off ‘for kicking out at an opposition player with no possibility of playing the ball’ and was handed a two-match ban.
Ronaldo’s dismissal was his fifth in six seasons at Real Madrid, the last one coming against Athletic Bilbao in the 2013-14 campaign.
