Ronaldo in race to face Arsenal
Monday, January 9, 2006
Article summary
Real Madrid CF's injury-hit striker Ronaldo may not be fit for next month's tie with Arsenal FC after suffering a recurrence of his calf problem last night.
Article body
Muscle problem
The 29-year-old, who has scored nine goals in 13 Primera División starts this season, limped off after little more than half-an-hour of last night's 0-0 draw at Villarreal CF. The muscle injury in his right leg had already caused him to miss last week's Copa del Rey match against Athletic Club Bilbao. Club doctors examined the forward this morning, and Roaldo is now expected to be out of action for at least three weeks.
'Felt fine'
"It's the same injury," he said. "I didn't take a risk in playing because I felt fine during the warm-up exercises." Ronaldo has had a difficult season with injuries, having twice been out with an ankle ligament problem before these latest troubles, and is yet to appear in the current edition of the UEFA Champions League. Madrid will hope the Brazilian international will be back by the time they welcome Arsenal on 21 February for the first leg of their Round of 16 tie.