Roberto Mancini has joked only the law may be able to stop Cristiano Ronaldo when Manchester City host Real Madrid tomorrow in a Champions League group game they must win to maintain any hope of progressing in the competition.

Asked how to nullify the threat of Ronaldo (right), who last season scored 46 times in La Liga and 60 goals in all competitions, Mancini said: “We’ll call the police. He’s a top player and he deserves to win the Ballon d’Or. He scored so many goals last year and that helped them to finish above Barca [to win the title].

“I hope he can have a bad night on Wednesday. When you come up against a player who can score one or two goals every game it is difficult.”

Ronaldo will be making a first playing return to the city since leaving Manchester United three years ago. Mancini is conscious tomorrow is a big night for the Portuguese.

“For him it will be, but also for them it’s an important game. They still have to qualify.And for Ronaldo, he’s coming back to Manchester.”

City are bottom of Group D with no wins and two points, while Real are second with seven points. Mancini’s team must beat Real, then win at Borussia Dortmund in the last game, and hope other results allow them to enter the knockout phase.

Gael Clichy is a doubt to face Madrid due to a leg injury suffered in Saturday’s 5-0 rout of Aston Villa. Clichy took a knock to his ankle which required treatment and he was replaced after 73 minutes.

Mancini again left Edin Dzeko on the substitutes’ bench for the game against Villa despite him finding the net nine times in 20 appearances this season.

“He is an important striker. He deserves to play from the start, like Sergio [Aguero], Carlos [Tevez] and Mario [Balotelli]”.

Guardian Service