Real duo a doubt for final

23 May 2014 20:16

Real Madrid are still sweating over the fitness of Karim Benzema and Pepe ahead of Saturday night's Champions League final against Atletico Madrid in Lisbon.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti said he would see how the pair reacted to Friday night's training session before making a final decision over their participation.

But star men Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale are fully fit after recent injury problems and ready to help Real land their first European crown since 2002.

"Cristiano and Bale and are fine, no problems, they have trained well," Ancelotti said at a press conference.

"But Pepe and Benzema haven't trained this week.

"We will take the decision for tomorrow after this session which they will take part in."

Forward Benzema and centre-back Pepe are struggling with hamstring and calf injuries respectively.

The fitness of Ronaldo is the biggest boost for Real as they look to gain revenge on the side who beat both them and Barcelona to the La Liga title.

Ancelotti added: " Ronaldo is a very important weapon for us. He has impressive statistics and we need the best from him. He has had a fantastic Champions League with 16 goals and helped the club reach the final."

Real, chasing their 10th European Cup, will start as favourites given their attacking power and the manner in which they took apart defending champions Bayern Munich in the second leg of their last-four meeting at the Allianz Arena.

But Ancelotti expects Saturday's clash to be a far more even affair.

"It will be a close game tactically," he said. "Atletico will also try to attack and show their offensive quality. We can be caught out on the counter, but we can also use the counter. We need to defend well and attack well.

"If we play like we did against Bayern we have a chance to win."

Source: PA