Carlo Ancelotti backs Cristiano Ronaldo to end mini goal drought
Ronaldo has scored 36 goals in 33 competitive games this season but has not found the back of the net since notching twice against Getafe almost exactly a month ago.
The world footballer of the year has had to serve a two-match suspension during that time, but since returning he has drawn blanks in the 4-0 derby defeat to Atletico and Saturday’s 2-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna.
Madrid failed to find top form in either of those matches, but Ancelotti expects them to do better against Schalke and is also backing Ronaldo to rediscover his goalscoring touch against a side Real thrashed 9-2 on aggregate at the same stage last season en route to lifting the trophy.
Ancelotti said: “Cristiano had a good game physically against Depor. I think he’s improving. He’s not got goals but tomorrow I think he has a good opportunity to do it.”
Ancelotti confirmed defender Pepe will play after injury but James Rodriguez, Luka Modric, Sergio Ramos, Sami Khedira and Fabio Coentrao are missing again.
Schalke will be desperate to avenge last season’s drubbing at the hands of Madrid, especially the first leg mauling the Spanish giants handed out as Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale all grabbed braces in a 6-1 win.
Working on those defensive deficiencies was the priority Roberto Di Matteo set himself when he replaced Jens Keller as coach last October, and whether he has succeeded or not will be seen tonight.
“It’s going to be a test to see how far we’ve come over the last weeks and months,” Di Matteo said.
More than that, though, Di Matteo wants to see his strikers start scoring more too, insisting he is not considering just parking the bus and attempting to stifle Madrid’s attacking force — a tactic which he employed to perfection against Barcelona and Bayern Munich to lead Chelsea to the European title in 2012.
“We’re playing the holders, but our goal is still to come away with a win,” he said. “We want to exploit the few weaknesses in Real’s game.”
For that undertaking, Di Matteo can welcome back into his side striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.
The Netherlands international has missed the last three Bundesliga games through suspension, but he is ready to face his former club. “I’m looking forward to the game,” said Huntelaar.
“We threw the game away at home last year and we have to do things better this time. I can’t wait to play.”
Meanwhile Basel will be hoping to continue their progress as they host Porto tonight.
The Swiss side qualified for this stage ahead of Liverpool.
“Basel have taken on an impressive growth and we worked very hard for all of the respect we are now being shown,” said forward Marco Streller.
“Ten years ago, people in Germany would laugh about us. Now, even Bundesliga clubs are interested in seeing how we’ve made it into Europe’s top 20. If we get through this round, then that would be comparable with the biggest achievement in the club’s history.”
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