Despite claims by coach Zinedine Zidane about Cristiano Ronaldo's fitness for the crucial tie against Manchester City, the Portuguese superstar failed to recover from a thigh injury he picked up last week.
CR7, who had played each and every minute in La Liga's matches, will also sit out his first UEFA Champions League game this season. The player will have to wait to break his own goal scoring record in the competition, which stands at 17 goals.
Here's how Real Madrid revealed the news to the world via Twitter.
¡Este es nuestro 11 inicial para el partido de ida de semifinales de Champions ante el Manchester City! #RMUCL pic.twitter.com/uwrAlcRVzC
— Real Madrid C. F. (@realmadrid) April 26, 2016
Ronaldo entered the pitch soon after his absence was announced. His "thumbs down" expression says it all.
'@Cristiano tells journalists at Etihad Stadium, that he would not participate in the meeting: #UCL
— Pulse Ghana Sports (@PulseGhanaSport) April 26, 2016
[@Hamdimaz]pic.twitter.com/AT7jiicK86
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