MADRID. — Real Madrid are hoping the fit-again Cristiano Ronaldo can lead them into the Champions League soccer final although strike partner Karim Benzema remains a doubt for tonight’s return match with Manchester City. The match kicks-off at 8:45pm.

Ronaldo completed a full training session on Monday for the first time since injuring his hamstring against Villarreal on April 20 and is expected to start the semi-final second leg against City who were held to a 0-0 home draw in the first game. Benzema, who is also nursing a hamstring problem, could only do running exercises on Monday.

The 10-times European champions scraped a 1-0 win at Real Sociedad in La Liga on Saturday without their two top scorers.

Portugal marksman Ronaldo took no part in last week’s tie in Manchester while France forward Benzema went off at halftime. Although Real had the better chances they were noticeably lightweight up front in the second period. The club’s all-time leading scorer Ronaldo has 47 goals in all competitions this season. His hat-trick in the quarter-final second leg against VfL Wolfsburg overturned a two-goal deficit from the first match, averting an embarrassing exit for Zinedine Zidane’s side.

City coach Manuel Pellegrini made eight changes to his team against Southampton on Sunday, in preparation for the trip to Madrid, but the plan backfired as they lost 4-2. — Reuters.

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