Football: Ronaldo, Benzema in Madrid squad for City clash

Football: Ronaldo, Benzema in Madrid squad for City clash
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Summary Ronaldo and Benzema were both included in Real Madris squad for their Champions League semi-final.

MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema were both included in coach Zinedine Zidane s squad for their Champions League semi-final, first leg at Manchester City on Tuesday despite fitness doubts.

Three-time World Player of the Year Ronaldo missed Saturday s 3-2 win at Rayo Vallecano with a minor thigh injury, but is expected to start on his return to Manchester, where he spent six years with Manchester United between 2003 and 2009.

Benzema is a bigger doubt after limping off with a knee injury before half-time at Rayo.

Right-back Dani Carvajal also returns after two games out as Zidane has called-up all 23 available players for the trip to the Etihad.

Gareth Bale was Real s hero as he scored twice to turn around a 2-0 deficit at Rayo.

And the Welshman -- who returns to England for the first time since leaving Tottenham Hotspur three years ago -- believes home advantage in the second leg gives Madrid the edge to reach a 14th European Cup final.

"I think that the most important thing is to score away from home," he told the club s website.

"At the Santiago Bernabeu we are very strong and obviously we ll have a lot of chances.

"Playing the second leg at home is important psychologically. If we get a good result in the Etihad Stadium, back at the Bernabeu our fans are always going to help us.

"A win is always a good result, but as long as we don t lose there, we ll be very confident at the Bernabeu."
 

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