Will Real miss Ronaldo?

How much will Real Madrid miss Cristiano Ronaldo during his five-game ban?

Cristiano Ronaldo’s five-game ban has been upheld, meaning that he will miss the Spanish champions’ first four La Liga games of the new season. We take a look at how much Zinedine Zidane’s side will miss the Portuguese… if at all.

Much has been made of how Ronaldo will cope without Ronaldo after the striker was slapped with a five-match ban for pushing referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea after being dismissed in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup.

Curiously, stats from last season suggest that Real may actually be better off without their star man. The Spanish champions won all nine of the games they played last season without the Portuguese compared to 20 out of 29 (69%) with him.

In his absence Real also averaged more goals per game (3.4 compared to 2.6) and more shots per game (17.6 compared to 17.4). Perhaps then things don’t look so gloomy afterall.

But which games will the 32-year-old miss?

August 16: Barcelona (home), Supercopa de Espana second leg

After coming off the bench to score in the first leg, ‘los blancos’ will have to do without him in the return fixture. The 3-1 lead Real hold should soften the blow though.

August 20: Deportivo La Coruna (away), La Liga

Real beat Deportivo 6-2 in this fixture last season, and haven’t lost to them since 2008. You would think this is a game that Real can manage to win without their star.

August 27: Valencia (home), La Liga

Real needed a late goal from Marcelo to beat ‘los che’ last season and this one could prove tricky for Zinedine Zidane’s side.

September 9: Levante (home), La Liga

Newly promoted Levnate should not prove too much of a threat for Real, with the Spanish champions having beaten them nine time out of the last nine.

September 17: Real Sociedad (away), La Liga

Real have only lost once to Sociedad in the last 13 years and crushed the Basques 3-0 home and away last season, they should get by just fine without Ronaldo.