Barca wary of Ronaldo threat
6 Oct 2012 3:22 AM GMT
Real Madrid face Barcelona in a make-or-break El Clasico this weekend aided by a resurgent Cristiano Ronaldo but acutely aware that defeat would see them trail their bitter enemies by a massive 11 points.
Ronaldo has hit form at just the right time, netting three in the 4-1 win at Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday, that haul coming after his hat-trick in the 5-1 La Liga rout of Deportivo La Coruna last weekend.
The last time Real and Barcelona clashed in the league last April, Ronaldo scored the decisive goal at the Camp Nou as Madrid went on to win the league.
But this season Barcelona have begun with ominous intent to reclaim their crown with six straight victories.
The Portuguese had looked moody and introspective, refusing to celebrate some goals with his team-mates and declaring himself unhappy but his winner against Manchester City in the Champions League last month showed his desire was back.
And now he is fully primed to face Barca after his successive hat-tricks.
‘I am very happy with the way we are playing and the victory against Ajax gives us all plenty of confidence while for me personally to score three is vital for my own confidence,’ said Ronaldo.
‘We will go to the Camp Nou which is a very difficult stadium but we have belief in our chances.’   Â
Ronaldo has hit form at just the right time, netting three in the 4-1 win at Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday, that haul coming after his hat-trick in the 5-1 La Liga rout of Deportivo La Coruna last weekend.
The last time Real and Barcelona clashed in the league last April, Ronaldo scored the decisive goal at the Camp Nou as Madrid went on to win the league.
But this season Barcelona have begun with ominous intent to reclaim their crown with six straight victories.
The Portuguese had looked moody and introspective, refusing to celebrate some goals with his team-mates and declaring himself unhappy but his winner against Manchester City in the Champions League last month showed his desire was back.
And now he is fully primed to face Barca after his successive hat-tricks.
‘I am very happy with the way we are playing and the victory against Ajax gives us all plenty of confidence while for me personally to score three is vital for my own confidence,’ said Ronaldo.
‘We will go to the Camp Nou which is a very difficult stadium but we have belief in our chances.’   Â
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