Ronaldo set to start against APOEL, trains with teammate (photo)

- Real Madrid face APOEL Nicosia in Champions League group tie on Wednesday

- Cristiano Ronaldo is set to play after missing the last three La Liga games due to suspension

- Los Blancos have suffered disappointing draws against Valencia and Levante in their last two games

Cristiano Ronaldo has returned to training for Real Madrid ahead of the Champions League group H clash against APOEL Nicosia on Wednesday, September 13.

The Portuguese has missed Real's last four games due to a suspension for pushing Spanish referee Ricardo de Burgos in the Spanish Super Cup against Barcelona.

The last domestic ban he will serve is an away game to Real Sociedad, but he is free to face Cypriot side APOEL as Real begin their defence of the Champions League.

Ronaldo set to start against APOEL, trains with teammate (photo: Daily Star)
The long ban has prevented Ronaldo from making a single competitive start this season, but the former Manchester United star looks ready to go.
Ronaldo was among the Real stars present in training on Tuesday, as Zinedine Zidane put his men through their paces at their base.

Ronaldo set to start against APOEL, trains with teammate (photo: Twitter @realmadriden)
And the return of talisman Ronaldo to a misfiring Real Madrid cannot come soon enough, according to team-mates Marcos Llorente and Lucas Vazquez.

Zinedine Zidane's side have suffered disappointing draws against Valencia and Levante that have left them four points off the pace behind league leaders Barcelona and Real Sociedad in the table.

"It is clear that he's very important to this team and has the ability to score incredible goals and that would have served us well today," said Real midfielder Llorente after Saturday's surprise 1-1 draw against promoted Levante.

Ronaldo set to start against APOEL, trains with teammate (photo: Twitter @realmadriden)
Real have lacked firepower in Ronaldo's absence after selling striker Alvaro Morata to Chelsea.

They will be without forward Karim Benzema for around a month after the Frenchman injured his hamstring against Levante.

Bale was particularly wasteful on Saturday after coming on for Benzema against Levante, spurning three clear chances to score.


Ronaldo hit top form at the business end of last season to fire Real to a Liga and Champions League double and was allowed to report back later than his team mates for pre-season training.

Real barely missed him as they outclassed Manchester United to win the European Super Cup, although he came on as a late substitute in the 2-1 win.

The four-time world player of the year's value to the team, however, has been highlighted by their struggles to put their chances away in the league.

Meanwhile, Nigerian music star Davido is gushing about Cristiano Ronaldo following him on Instagram. This video below has more information: