Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo is shown during the clasico match against Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on April 23, 2017. Gerard Julien / AFP
Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo is shown during the clasico match against Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on April 23, 2017. Gerard Julien / AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo held out of Real Madrid line-up for Deportivo clash



Cristiano Ronaldo has been rested for Real Madrid's trip to Deportivo La Coruna on Wednesday, the team sheet on Real's website showed.

The Portuguese striker has been dropped for his third consecutive league away game by coach Zinedine Zidane and misses the trip to the Riazor despite Madrid’s clasico defeat on Sunday.

That loss drew Barcelona level on 75 points with Madrid at the top of the table, although Los Blancos have a game in hand.

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But Zidane has continued to rotate players as he tries to keep his squad fresh for their dual assault on La Liga and the Champions League.

With gruelling Madrid derbies coming up in the Champions League semi final bouts with Atletico, the Frenchman has also left midfielder Toni Kroos behind as his side head to Galicia, the team sheet showed.

Madrid have played 12 matches without Ronaldo this season in all competitions, winning 10 and drawing two.

Gareth Bale is injured, while Sergio Ramos serves his one-match suspension after his Clasico red card, although centre back Raphael Varane returns almost one month after he suffered a hamstring problem.

* Reuters

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