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Real Madrid’s 3-1 win over Espanyol in the final game of the season came at a price as manager Carlo Ancelotti faced further injury concerns over star Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. Ronaldo was withdrawn at the last minute while Karim Benzema came off in the second half after suffering a pull.
Ancelotti, though has assured that Ronaldo would be fit for the Champions League final saying “Cristiano wasn’t comfortable before the game. Yesterday he trained well and was confident. We didn’t risk him; he has had a test and it looks like a minor spasm. We’re relaxed because he has time to recover and play in the final. He hasn’t played in the last few matches. It wasn’t a risk because he trained normally yesterday and was full of confidence.
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When the medical test doesn’t show anything, the player’s own judgment is very important. He was comfortable and happy yesterday. He wanted to play. He wasn’t right in the warm up and we decided to not use him in this match to avoid risking anything. The problem is that when you have a final coming up you can’t take risks. If it had been our last match of the season, he would have played. With such an important final coming up we didn’t need to take any risks. Cristiano is very sincere.”
Ancelotti was also confident that Benzema will be fit “Benzema suffered a minor abductor pull when he passed the ball to Bale. I don’t think he will have any problems to play the final. Di María played without any problems and it was the same for Carvajal. Khedira needed minutes to regain his match fitness. Illarra was excellent. Now we will start thinking about the next game.”
With the La Liga campaign now over, attention now turns to their Champions League final against Atletico Madrid in Lisbon on May 24. Real Madrid have won the Copa Del Rey while Atletico Madrid have won the La Liga, this is the first time that teams from the same city are playing in the Champions League final.
