adminMADRID. — World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo returns for a Real Madrid side otherwise stricken by injuries and suspensions as they look to beat Atletico Madrid for the first time in six meetings this season today.
Ronaldo completed his two-game ban for kicking out at Cordoba defender Edimar as the European champions sneaked past Sevilla to open up a four-point lead over Barcelona at the top of the table on Wednesday. However, victory came at a cost as World Cup star James Rodriguez broke a bone in his right foot that will keep him out for two months, while centre-back Sergio Ramos will also be sidelined due to a hamstring problem in the coming weeks.
Left-back Marcelo misses out at the Calderon too after his appeal against his fifth yellow card of the Liga campaign was dismissed on Thursday.
Real boss Carlo Ancelotti is short of defensive options with Pepe also out with a rib injury, but he insisted he has confidence in the inexperienced pairing of Raphael Varane and Nacho in central defence.
Atletico have bounced back from their heartbreaking Champions League final defeat at the hands of Real last season to beat them in the Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey over two legs this season, as well as winning 2-1 at the Bernabeu in La Liga earlier in the campaign. However, defeat this weekend would see them fall 10 points behind the league leaders and all but end their defence of the title.
Barcelona will be eager to capitalise should Real slip up when they travel to face Athletic Bilbao tomorrow.
The Catalans have been in scintillating form since their last visit to the Basque country ended in defeat to Real Sociedad at the beginning of January, winning eight games in a row and scoring 29 goals in the process.
However, they have failed to win in any of their previous three trips to Bilbao, including a 1-0 defeat on their first visit to the new San Mames last season.
Elsewhere, Sevilla, Valencia and Villarreal continue their fight for the fourth and final Champions League place.
FIXTURES:
Today: Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid (5pm), Villarreal v Granada (7pm), Levante v Malaga (9pm), Real Sociedad v Celta Vigo (11pm)
Tomorrow: Cordoba v Almeria (1pm), Getafe v Sevilla (6pm), Espanyol v Valencia (8pm), Athletic Bilbao v Barcelona (10pm)
Monday: Elche v Rayo Vallecano (9:45pm). — AFP.
Online Reporter