Cristiano Ronaldo will be fit and available to play in the Champions League final in Kiev at the end of the month, according to Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane. The Portuguese superstar will take to the field at the NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium against Liverpool, aiming to help his team to a third-straight title in the competition.
The 33-year old forward was substituted at half time during last weekend's El Clásico clash against Barcelona, after injuring himself while scoring his side's first goal. Speculation ran wild about the extent of the damage, with Football fans around the world wondering if his substitution meant that it was indeed serious or if it was just a precautionary move.
Zidane's latest comments however appear to hint at the latter
He will certainly miss the La Liga clashed with Sevilla and Celta Vigo, but the Frenchman hopes that his team's talisman will be able to return in their final league outing of the season against Villarreal.
With a tough-looking final against the free-scoring Reds coming up at the end of May, Zidane would perhaps be best advised to wrap Ronaldo up in cotton wool between now and then, given that his team has nothing left to fight for domestically. Of course, he has more information about the injury and his treatment than anyone else, so he is the best position to make a judgement.
Speaking to reporters about the damage to Ronaldo's foot, he said: " It's incredible that he's already walking after 48 hours.
That shows his ambition, his desire to want to play. It would be perfect if he was able to play against Villarreal. It's a sprain, but there's not damage to the fibula. The ankle is stable."
The prospect of a fit and firing Ronaldo will alleviate Madridista worries, but deals a bitter blow to Reds fans who are daring to dream
Ronaldo's anticipated availability for the final in Kiev does, of course, improve Real's chances of lifting the trophy, but it doesn't mean that Real will definitely win.
Jurgen Klopp's team have exceeded all expectations in this season's Champions League, reaching the final via wins over Roma, Porto and Manchester City, arguably the best team in Europe this season.
The Spanish giants are clearly still the favourites, but if this season has proven anything it is that Madrid are certainly beatable and more than capable of a wobble.
The game against Barcelona highlighted both their strengths and their weaknesses, the reasons hinting that they should have little problems in Kiev and simultaneously those why they should be very, very worried about Liverpool's attacking prowess.
Ronaldo was excellent in his 45 minutes on the pitch, but then again, that will be of no surprise to anyone. Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema however, who have been less than convincing all-season long, were back at their brilliant best in El Clásico. The French striker, operating from the left to accommodate Ronny's central role, linked up excellently with his Portuguese strike-partner, while Welshman Bale proved his ability with a well-taken finish from 20 yards to earn his side a point.
At the back, though, they are vulnerable. Their favoured high defensive line will be ideal conditions for Salah, Mané and Firmino to run riot, in theory, and its hard to imagine the English side not creating chances against this defence. The only issue might be fatigue - it has been a long season for Jurgen Klopp's side, and their team that has often performed so consistently throughout is showing signs of tiring.
Draws against relegated West Brom and Stoke, followed by an uninspiring defeat to Chelsea that puts their hopes of a top four finish in jeopardy, show the team to be physically exhausted. Their apparent lack of energy, compounded with Ronaldo's apparent availability for the final, are worrying signs for Reds fans. Rest assured, the Champions League final on May 26 in Kiev should be a free-flowing affair showcasing two of the finest attacking sides around.
