Real Madrid vs Manchester City: Will Cristiano Ronaldo play centre-forward in Karim Benzema's absence?

With Zinedine Zidane virtually confirming that Karim Benzema would not be fit in time to face Manchester City tomorrow night , the next step is for him to formulate a gameplan to knock out the Premier League side without one third of his glittering strikeforce.

Curious as it is, beyond Real Madrid's riches their squad is not particularly blessed with strength in depth and the back-up centre-forward for Benzema this season has been, more often than not, Cristiano Ronaldo .

With the Portuguese also out, academy product Borja Mayoral got a start on Saturday in San Sebastian but did little to suggest he was ready for a Champions League semi-final second leg.

In the first leg, Isco played there for a time after Benzema's substitution and Jese is also capable of filling that role.

Starting: Cristiano Ronaldo will play, but on the left or centrally?

The most likely attacking trio would see Cristiano Ronaldo playing through the middle as he did throughout the club's injury crisis in the autumn and most notably in the crunch group games with Paris Saint-Germain.

Indeed, a role closer to goal could even suit the Portugal skipper, bearing in mind that he isn't completely fit.

Of course, Zidane has insisted that his talisman is "100%" but he also said that last week and Ronaldo didn't even make the matchday 18, so forgive us for not getting too carried away.

Lucas Vazquez would start again, after running a mile further than anyone else in the first leg.