Cristiano Ronaldo will miss Real Madrid’s vital game against Villareal on Saturday, after losing his appeal against the red card he received last weekend against Athletic Bilbao.
Real Madrid sit just three points behind Atletico, but in a tight three way race they can’t afford to drop any more points. Ronaldo will be a big miss, but Gareth Bale may well be back after the latest in a string of injuries. Ancelotti insists that Bale will play tomorrow, but Los Blancos fans have heard that all too often.
The red card was a farcical one. Ronaldo brushed Iturraspe’s forehead, and he promptly went down as if he’s been shot. A melee ensued before a bemused Ronaldo was shown red.
Carlo Ancelotti had been confident of winning the appeal, but in Spain, as elsewhere, the referees are defended to the hilt, even when an obvious injustice has been done. A surprising result at the appeal, then. Ancelotti and his Real Madrid team must be hoping that it isn’t an equally surprising result tomorrow evening. Villareal are a team in form, but with Jese and Di Maria improving with each game I predict a 2-0 victory for the home side.
