Cristiano Ronaldo has returned to training with Real Madrid and has been included in the 20-man squad for Tuesday’s Champions League quarterfinal second leg at Borussia Dortmund.
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Ronaldo was rested for Madrid’s 4-0 La Liga win at Real Sociedad on Saturday night, with coach Carlo Ancelotti saying the knee problem that has hampered the Portugal captain during recent matches required some rest.
Given Madrid’s 3-0 advantage from the first leg, Ronaldo could be rested again in Dortmund to give the knee further time to recover fully, but the current Champions League top scorer took a full part in Los Blancos’ training session on Sunday and is in the squad.
A statement on the club’s official website on Sunday read: “Cristiano Ronaldo joined the training session on the pitch [as] Madrid returned to training and completed a recovery session two days before the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal against Borussia Dortmund in Signal Iduna Park.
“Carlo Ancelotti oversaw Casillas and Jesus, who worked on specifics with goalkeeper coach Villiam Vecchi, and outfield players Cristiano Ronaldo, [Angel] Di Maria, [Alvaro] Morata, [Raphael] Varane, Casemiro, [Fabio] Coentrao and Castilla striker Willian Jose. The 11 players who started in the rout against Real Sociedad worked inside Madrid's facilities, while [Sami] Khedira, [Alvaro] Arbeloa, Jese and Marcelo were the absentees.”
Gareth Bale again stepped up in Ronaldo’s absence against Real Sociedad, brilliantly capitalising on a mistake by Carlos Bravo to fire a low 35 yard strike past the stranded goalkeeper to make it 2-0 early in the second half. That goal came soon after he had been caught in the knee by La Real midfielder Markel Bergara, opening a wound that required two stitches after the game but is not expected to keep him from starting in Dortmund on Tuesday.
Madrid-based newspaper AS noted that Madrid have a better record without Ronaldo in the side this season, having won all five of the La Liga games which the current Ballon d’Or holder has missed -- beating Real Valladolid 4-0, Elche 3-0, Getafe 3-0, Villarreal 4-2 and Real Sociedad 4-0. The only Champions League game Ronaldo has missed this season ended in a 4-1 win at home to Galatasaray.