Ronaldo set for first La Liga start of season

 

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo is finally set to play his first La Liga game of the season against Real Betis on Wednesday, with goalkeeper Antonio Adan concerned that his team will pay for the forward’s frustration about his late start.

Ronaldo has missed Madrid’s opening four La Liga games of the campaign due to a suspension imposed when he pushed the referee after being sent off in the Spanish Super Cup first leg at Barcelona in August.

Since then the club’s record scorer has played and found the back of the net in the 2-1 Bernabeu Trophy friendly win over Fiorentina and 3-0 Champions League victory against Apoel Nicosia. However, he was forced to watch home league draws against Levante and Valencia, which saw Zinedine Zidane’s side drop four points behind early leaders Barcelona.

This could spell trouble for Betis at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, according to Adan, who came through the ranks at Madrid and left in 2013.

“Ronaldo is the best, obviously,” Adan told AS. “For sure he will want to score now all the goals he couldn’t before. We must work well defensively and when we have the ball, play our own style.”

Zidane may also return Toni Kroos to the XI on Wednesday as the Germany international has returned to training with the squad after missing Sunday’s 3-1 win at Real Sociedad due to a muscle problem. Marcelo is also back from suspension and should start at left-back.

Mateo Kovacic, Karim Benzema and Jesus Vallejo are all still sidelined through various injury issues, with Theo Hernandez a doubt following a shoulder problem picked up when deputising for Marcelo against Sociedad. Espn.com