MADRID: Boosted by Cristiano Ronaldo’s return and a nearly perfect home record, Real Madrid welcome Manchester City on Wednesday with another Champions League final almost in their grasp.

Real will have Ronaldo back after he missed three straight games because of a leg injury, including the 0-0 first-leg draw in Manchester last week. The Portuguese forward leads the Champions League with 16 goals, one shy of the record he set in the 2013-14 season.

Ronaldo hurt his right leg in a La Liga game on April 20 and hasn’t played since then.

Real have not released any official information about the injury, prompting widespread rumours about its severity, but he participated fully in training on Monday and Tuesday and looked fit to return to action.

“Cristiano is fine, he is at 100 percent,” Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane told a news conference on Tuesday. “He trained and will be there tomorrow.

“We need a 100 per cent Cristiano. He’s a different player. His numbers show that and I’m happy he’s with us tomorrow.”

Unable to recover in time were Karim Benzema and defensive midfielder Casemiro.

“Karim and Casemiro are another thing. In the scan today Karim still has a problem and we don’t want to risk him. The same with Casemiro. He doesn’t have a serious injury but it is a dilemma and we also don’t want to risk him.”

Zidane said the 10-time European champions have an obligation to reach the final.

“It’s going to be difficult, but if we don’t advance it will be a failure,” he said. “We have been saying that we haven’t won anything yet. Our goal is to advance. We will do our best to try to make it happen.”

Another edge for Real comes from Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, where they have crushed all-comers this season, winning 20 of 23 matches in all competitions.

In the Champions League, they have won all five home games by outscoring opponents 18-0.

Only two opponents have beaten Real at home this season: Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. Malaga earned a 0-0 draw against them at the Bernabeu — a result that, if repeated, would send Wednesday’s game into extra time.

Real, the title winners in 2014, have won their last six games at the venue in all competitions. The club are unbeaten against English sides at home in the Champions League, and defeated City 3-2 in the tournament’s group stage in 2012.

They are eyeing their 14th final appearance, 60 years after defeating Stade de Reims 4-3 to win the inaugural competition. The Madrid heavyweights have progressed in seven out of eight European ties after being held to a goalless draw in the first leg, losing only to Spartak Moscow in the 1991 European Cup quarter-finals.

While Real scraped a 1-0 win at Real Sociedad in La Liga on Saturday, City coach Manuel Pellegrini made eight changes to his team against Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday, in preparation for the trip to Madrid, but the plan backfired as they lost 4-2.

The Chilean was unapologetic about resting some of his players as his side look to reach a first Champions League final.

“I would do exactly the same again because we have an important game on Wednesday,” said Pellegrini.

Pellegrini and City were boosted after midfielder Yaya Toure returned to training on Tuesday.

The Ivory Coast international has missed City’s last two games, including last week’s first-leg, with a thigh injury, but could now be in contention for the return.

Spanish playmaker David Silva has been ruled out after sustaining a hamstring injury in the first leg, while French midfielder Samir Nasri is ineligible.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2016