A cruel twist for Real: Ronaldo risks missing Wednesday's Clasico with ankle injury

By Declan Warrington

PUBLISHED: 16:16 GMT, 28 January 2013 | UPDATED: 16:43 GMT, 28 January 2013
 
Cristiano Ronaldo's ankle injury could keep him out of the first leg of Real Madrid's Copa del Rey semi-final against Barcelona on Wednesday.
The forward, at £80million the world's most expensive player, twisted his ankle in yesterday's 4-0 league victory over Getafe in which he scored a perfect hat-trick - right foot, left foot and header - in just 10 minutes.
That means that to play him at the Bernabeu on Wednesday would be a risk but the fact it is the latest instalment of El Clasico may persuade Real to gamble on their star man.

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Ronaldo was substituted shortly after scoring the third of his goals in a move the club described as 'precautionary'.
His ankle was instantly treated with ice to minimise any potential damage and there remains hope he will play but any time on the sidelines would represent a significant blow to under-pressure manager Jose Mourinho.

Devastating: Real would be considerably weakened by the Portuguese's absence

On Wednesday, Real begin a run of fixtures that will define their season – they face league matches with Sevilla and Barca, both legs of their Champions League knockout clash against Manchester United and then the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final with Barca.
The first leg would also be the latest battle between Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, the two best players in the world.

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Real assistant Aitor Karanka attempted to dismiss fears about Ronaldo's potential absence, however.
'We used ice as a precaution and we haven't removed it,' he said. 'His performance is there for all to see. Just look at the goals he scored.'

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