Real Madrid Face Copa del Rey Final Without Cristiano Ronaldo
As anticipation builds for Wednesday night’s Copa del Rey final, Real Madrid will face arch-rivals Barcelona without their talisman, Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been ruled out due to injury.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti confirmed the Portuguese forward’s absence in a press conference on the eve of the final, saying the decision was made to avoid jeopardising the remainder of the season.
“Cristiano is not available to play,” Ancelotti stated plainly. “There is a risk in putting him on the pitch, and we don’t want to take any risks. There are other things to play for this season.”
Ronaldo has been sidelined with a thigh injury that has kept him out of recent matches, and although speculation had swirled over a possible return for the high-stakes clash, the club has opted for caution. The 29-year-old, who has scored 45 goals in all competitions this season, is undoubtedly a massive loss for Los Blancos.
Despite the setback, Ancelotti remains optimistic. “Cristiano’s absence may give motivation to the others,” he said. “The players will run more and play more together.”
Real Madrid will be counting on the likes of Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Ángel Di María to step up in the absence of their leading scorer. The final, set to take place at the Mestalla Stadium in Valencia, marks the latest chapter in the fierce rivalry between Spain’s two footballing giants.
Barcelona, under pressure following a string of disappointing results in La Liga and Europe, see the Copa del Rey as their final chance to claim silverware this season. Meanwhile, Madrid are still alive in the Champions League and La Liga title races, making squad management all the more critical.
Kick-off is scheduled for 21:30 local time, with millions around the world expected to tune in for another gripping instalment of El Clásico.
