On Tuesday, Real Madrid take on Atletico in a crucial Champions League clash. The first leg of their semi-final tie will be held at the Bernabeu, with Cristiano and Co. needing home victory to avoid any second-leg complication.
With Los Blancos stuttering in their last two league games, their Portuguese attacker has reportedly taken drastic measures to improve their performance. According to Diario Gol, Ronaldo has asked Zidane to bench Karim Benzema.
The authenticity of this report can be questioned, but the reasoning is understandable – the French forward has struggled to find the back of the net in big games this season.
In the clash with Bayern Munich, Cristiano scored all but one of the six goals; in El Clasico, Benzema was once again missing. As a result, the Portuguese ace feels his BBC buddy can no longer deliver against the toughest of opponents.
Cristiano wants to be played down the middle. Although the four-time Ballon d’Or winner is a shadow of his former self, he is still one of the deadliest attackers out there.
In Benzema’s absence, Cthe 32-year-old wants Isco and either James Rodriguez or Asensio on the flanks. Bale is unlikely to feature, meaning Isco is destined to start, but the other wing is up for contention should Zidane accept Ronaldo’s demand.
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