Football
ESPN staff 10y

Ronaldo named in Super Cup squad

Cristiano Ronaldo has been named in Real Madrid's 22-man squad for the UEFA Super Cup clash against Sevilla in Cardiff on Tuesday as Carlo Ancelotti is set to field the world's most expensive attack.

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Ronaldo, 29, has been battling a tendinitis problem since the end of the 2013-14 campaign, but the Blancos forward could start to form a potent trio alongside Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez in Cardiff on Tuesday.

The Portugal captain -- who signed from Manchester United in 2009 for 80 million pounds -- missed four of Real's final seven La Liga games as they stumbled towards the finish line, ending up three points behind champions Atletico Madrid and runners-up Barcelona.

Real signed Colombia international Rodriguez from Monaco for 71 million pounds after he starred at this summer's World Cup, scoring six goals to land the Golden Boot at the tournament in Brazil.

Bale -- who will play in front of his hometown fans on Tuesday -- helped to justify his world-record fee of 85 million pounds with a goal in the Champions League final to help beat fierce rivals Atletico Madrid 4-1, and a late strike in the Copa del Rey final to see off Barca 2-1.

The trio, who cost a combined 236 million pounds, will combine as Real look to keep chase in with Barca, who followed up last summer's big-money purchase of Neymar with the 94 million-euro signing of Liverpool forward Luis Suarez in July.

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Ancelotti's has named a strong 22-man squad to face Europa League winners Sevilla, although Diego Lopez -- who has been heavily linked with a move to AC Milan -- misses out, with new goalkeeper Keylor Navas makes the cut.

Real defender Alvaro Arbeloa believes the Cardiff crowd will see an open game of football with both sides still battling for fitness ahead of the new season.

"These matches at the start of the season are different, neither team is at full fitness and we'll certainly see more chances than there are in a European final," he told his club's official website. "I hope it's an attractive match and that Madrid win."

Full Real Madrid squad to face Sevilla:

Casillas, Keylor Navas, Pacheco; Varane, Pepe, Ramos, Coentrão, Marcelo, Carvajal, Arbeloa, Nacho; Khedira, Kroos, James Rodríguez, Bale, Xabi Alonso, Modric, Di María, Isco, Illarramendi; Ronaldo, Benzema.

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