Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane played down injury fears over superstar Cristiano Ronaldo following Wednesday's 3-0 La Liga win over Villarreal at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
After Barcelona and Atletico Madrid had also won earlier in the evening, goals from Karim Benzema, Lucas Vazquez and Luka Modric saw Zidane's side remain just one point behind the joint-leaders with four games of the season still to play.
What seemed a straightforward night for Madrid turned darker in injury time. Ronaldo had been set to continue his record of being the only outfield player in La Liga to play every single minute so far this season, but the Portuguese picked up an apparent thigh muscle problem and left the pitch in added time.
Madrid finished the match with 10 men because Zidane had already used his three substitutes.
Immediate reports from the stadium suggested that the 31-year-old had just suffered a severe cramp, but the problem makes Ronaldo a possible doubt for Saturday afternoon's La Liga game at Rayo Vallecano, and more seriously for Tuesday's Champions League semifinal first leg at Manchester City.
The Los Blancos coach told his postgame news conference that he had been very concerned when seeing Ronaldo leaving the pitch early, but now felt more confident after speaking with the player.
"Ronaldo felt something just at the end," Zidane said. "But at the moment I cannot say anything. I believe it was more a fright than anything serious. We will see tomorrow exactly what he has. I was worried when I saw him leaving the pitch, but I am more relaxed now."
The European Golden Boot and La Liga Pichichi top scorer leader appeared to suffer the problem when attempting a bicycle kick late in the game. Zidane said that there were times when he would like to rest the superstar, but Ronaldo himself always wants to play.
"The idea for a coach is that when you have a player like Cristiano, sometimes it is necessary for him to rest," he said. "Not to finish a game sometimes, or not to play sometimes. But he always wants to be out on the pitch, to always give what he has inside.
"Sometimes, for me, today when I see him coming off the pitch, it is difficult. But now we will see, there are important games to come, and we will see when we get him back."
Zidane said he was happy with how his team had controlled the game from start to finish, not giving a Villarreal team currently in fourth spot in the table any chances to get anything.
"We are sticking with what we are doing well, working well," he said. "The team today was phenomenal from minute one until the end. We won back many balls, attacked well, created many chances, were almost perfect in defence. I am very happy with the attitude of all the players."
After Barca's 8-0 win at Depor, and Atletico's 1-0 win at Athletic, Madrid remain third in the table with just four games to play, and Zidane said nothing would change in how his side approached the end of the season.
"We are just a point back still," he said. "We will continue with our football, our idea, what we have been doing. Nothing has changed."
Gareth Bale missed Wednesday's game with a muscle problem, but was expected to be back for Saturday's game at Rayo Vallecano, Zidane said.
"I hope that tomorrow [Bale] is going to train with us, and that he will be there for Saturday's game," he said.