Ronaldo misses semi-final match at Manchester City with thigh injury
If Real Madrid is going to return to the Santiago Bernabeu with an advantage for the second leg of its tie against Manchester City in the Champions League's semi-finals, Los Blancos will have to win without the man who holds 16 goals to his name in the competition so far.
Although Zinedine Zidane announced that Cristiano Ronaldo, who's battling a thigh strain, was "100 percent" for the first leg of the tie, the Portuguese phenom was ultimately omitted from Real Madrid's team sheet.
Lucas Vazquez was inserted into Los Blancos' starting XI in his place.
This is our starting line-up for tonight's @ChampionsLeague semi-final first leg against Manchester City. 📝#RMUCL pic.twitter.com/MXcP1TNhTw
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) April 26, 2016
Ronaldo, who suffered the injury six days ago during Real Madrid's 3-0 La Liga victory over Villarreal, reportedly failed a fitness test at the Etihad Stadium.
Two goals shy of breaking his own record for the most scored by a player in a single Champions League campaign, Ronaldo will have to wait to tally his 17th and 18th goals in the competition.