Russia 2018 – Ronaldo takes on teammates as Spain face Portugal
The Russia 2018 World Cup commenced on Thursday in a game that saw hosts Russia pummel Saudi Arabia 5 nil in the opening game of the tournament.
Other games continue today and all eyes at the Santiago Bernabeu will be on the game between Portugal and Spain in Group B.
Madridistas would have had the opportunity to assess new manager Julen Lopetegui’s performance in the course of this high profile game between two European giants but it wasn’t meant to be.
The game between Portugal and Spain will see a good number of Real Madrid players in action. It will also see Real Madrid star man Cristiano Ronaldo come up against his Madrid teammates in one of the potentially best and high profile games of the tournament.
Cristiano Ronaldo will come up against familiar foes in the likes of Sergio Ramos, Dani Carvajal, Isco Alarcon, Marco Asensio, Lucas Vazquez, and Nacho Fernandez.
READ: Top 4 replacements for Ronaldo if he leaves Madrid
This should be an interesting game as Ramos has spoken ahead of the game insisting that he would rather have Ronaldo in his side than play against him.
He admitted that the Portuguese star is a constant threat. Regardless, this game should be a cracker although Spain appear to be favorites on paper.
We’ll get to see how Ramos alongside his other teammates handle the threat that Cristiano Ronaldo poses in attack for Portugal. Dani Carvajal who would have undoubtedly started the game still faces fitness concerns and may not be available for the game.
Sergio Ramos is a sure starter, with Nacho likely going to settle for a place on the substitutes bench. Isco who was blossoming in the national team under Lopetegui’s tutelage should start this very crucial game.
The likes of Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez will definitely settle for a place on the bench and may be given the opportunity to show what they can offer as substitutes.
Hopefully, after the show by the Russians yesterday, a Galactico hits the back of the net or puts in a remarkable performance. All eyes will also be on Ronaldo as this could be his last chance to make a significant impact at the World Cup.
Still wondering how Madridistas in Spain will react if he hits one or two into the back of the net against their national team. I guess neutrals won’t care.
