Zinedine Zidane insists Cristiano Ronaldo is fully fit for the visit of Manchester City, but Real Madrid will be without Casemiro and Karim Benzema.
Ronaldo was described in similar terms before the first leg, only to fail a late fitness test after picking up a new injury and miss the tie entirely.
“Cristiano is 100%. He’ll play. Benzema is out and so is Casemiro. We didn’t want to take a risk with Benzema. Casemiro isn’t an injury but he has some bruising. We don’t want to risk him. We have other players in the squad,” Zidane told reporters, according to AS.
“There’s no risk on Cristiano. He’s been 100% in training. We have a great relationship and it’s important a player can speak with his Coach. He’s had a week. He didn’t play in the first leg and he’s recovered. We always want him on the pitch because he’s a player at another level. His numbers prove it. I wish Benzema and Casemiro were too, but someone else will play.
“Toni Kroos won’t just have to do more defending [without Casemiro], the whole team will. Without the ball we have to defend together. If we have it, which is what we like, we defend less. The idea is the same home or away.”
