The Bernabeu awaits Ronaldo's revival
We're into the crucial second half of the season and Real Madrid need their star to shine more than ever after an out-of-sorts start to the campaign.
Real Madrid are in dire need of Cristiano Ronaldo's goals. Halfway through the current term and the Portuguese striker has scored 16 goals, two fewer than last season at this stage.
But in La Liga, Ronaldo has only found the back of the net four times. Very different figures to last January, by which time he had nine league goals to his name in 14 appearances. Added to that, he had scored four goals en route to lifting the Club World Cup.
It's a whole different story in the Champions League. Ronaldo has broken an all-time tournament record with his nine goals in the group stages, becoming the first player to score at least once in each game. He only managed to score twice last season before the knockout stages.
In the current term, apart from his goals in La Liga and the Champions League, he has scored in the Club World Cup (2) and the Spanish Super Cup (1).
Last year, Ronaldo resuscitated after Christmas and guided Real to the Champions League and the Spanish league, adding 24 goals to the 18 he had scored from August to December. He scored one goal in the Copa del Rey, 10 goals to lead Madrid to another continental triumph, and 13 goals as they clinched La Liga.
Now Real Madrid need Ronaldo to come back for the most decisive period of the season. He will look to get back among the goals on Sunday in front of the Bernabeu faithful, who can't wait to have their star back.