adminREAL Madrid are set to be without Cristiano Ronaldo as they look to seal top spot in Champions League Group B against Galatasaray.
Ronaldo returned from inspiring Portugal to World Cup qualification with his 25th club goal of an already remarkable season on Saturday, setting Los Blancos on their way to a 5-0 La Liga win at Almeria.
However, the Ballon d’Or hopeful hobbled out of that victory early in the second half and Madrid confirmed on Monday that scans showed he had suffered a “lesion in the posterior part of the left thigh”.
It is unclear exactly how long Ronaldo will be sidelined for, but the fact he is almost certain to miss today’s clash at the Bernabeu bodes well for Galatasaray.
The Turkish champions were on the receiving end of a Ronaldo hat-trick during their 6-1 drubbing in the reverse fixture on matchday one, while the forward also scored three times across two legs as Madrid prevailed in last season’s quarter-final between the two sides.
Scoring contributions in each of his side’s four Champions League matches this term means that Ronaldo has already matched the record of eight goals in the group stages, although his chances of bettering that mark may now be over.
A 4-0 triumph over Copenhagen and four points from two matches against Juventus means that Madrid only need a point to ensure qualification, but a shock defeat against Copenhagen on matchday four makes Galatasaray’s situation far more precarious.
Recently-installed coach Roberto Mancini sees his side sitting second in the group on four points, level with the Danes and a point ahead of Juventus, whom they host on the final matchday.
Ahead of a game that will be played on his 49th birthday, Mancini told Uefa’s official website: “Galatasaray are a very good team who have the potential to do well this season.
“It’s never easy in the Champions League and our group is particularly tough. However, we can progress.
“I’m still confident of qualifying. We need to improve as a team but I am hopeful of a good result in our next game against Real Madrid.
“Then we will have everything to play for at home to Juventus on 10 December. As they say in football, never say never.”
Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen will hope to continue their outstanding home record in the Champions League group stages against Manchester United.
Sami Hyypia’s men welcome the Premier League champions to the BayArena today for a crucial Group A clash, as they target their ninth home win in a row in the initial stages of Europe’s premier club competition – a result that would send them top of the pool.
With 10 wins from their first 13 matches, Leverkusen have made their best-ever start to a Bundesliga season but a 1-0 win over Hertha Berlin on Saturday was overshadowed by the injury to winger Sidney Sam.
Sam has been in electric form for club and country this season, scoring 11 goals, but lasted just four minutes against Hertha before being substituted with a thigh problem.
His absence is likely to give a chance to attacker Robbie Kruse – recently awarded Australia’s Players’ Player of the Year gong for 2013 – with the other flank set to be manned by South Korea star Son Heung-Min.
Leverkusen lie second in the group with seven points from four matches and have not lost since a 4-2 defeat at United on matchday one.
Included in their home winning streak in the group stages are triumphs over Real Madrid, Roma and Valencia, while they also came from behind to defeat former holders Chelsea 2-1 in 2011.
However, Hyypia will be without defender Roberto Hilbert (knee) and midfielder Stefan Reinartz (heel).
United have won their last three Champions League fixtures against Leverkusen, although they were knocked out on away goals by the Germans in the 2001-02 semi-finals.
They are unbeaten in their last 10 matches in all competitions, climbing to sixth in the Premier League after a poor start to the season.
New manager David Moyes has finally found his feet at Old Trafford but they were denied on Sunday when Kim Bo-Kyung headed an injury-time equaliser to give Cardiff City a last-gasp 2-2 draw in South Wales.
Wayne Rooney scored twice in the previous fixture against Leverkusen, taking his Champions League tally to 29 goals and cementing his place as Britain’s all-time leading scorer in the competition.
He will be hopeful of adding to that but may be without strike partner Robin van Persie again after the Dutchman missed the match at Cardiff with toe and groin issues.
Michael Carrick is a certain absentee with an achilles injury but forward Danny Welbeck came back from a knee problem when he came off the bench at Cardiff.-Goal.com.
Online Reporter