Football: Top Two Collide In Latest Challenge For Relentless Real

MADRID, , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Jan, 2017 ) - Cristiano Ronaldo returns for Real Madrid as the European champions put their Spanish record 40-game unbeaten run on the line for the second time in four days in a top of the table clash at Sevilla on Sunday.

Victory for the hosts would blow the La Liga title race wide open with Sevilla closing to within one point of Real, who also still have a game in hand. Ronaldo was once again rested in the week he was crowned FIFA's Player of the Year for 2016 as Real booked their place in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals on Thursday by surpassing Barcelona's previous best unbeaten run of 39 games.

However, Sevilla were just seconds away from inflicting Real's first defeat in eight months as Karim Benzema salvaged a 3-3 draw on the night deep into stoppage time as Real progressed 6-3 on aggregate.

Despite the drama, both sides had an eye on arguably the biggest game of the Liga season so far on Sunday that will fully test Sevilla's credentials as title challengers. "We will have to suffer just as much on Sunday," said Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane.

"It is a hard place to go and they have very good players, but it is what faces every weekend and this weekend will be especially difficult." Jorge Sampaoli's men moved up Barcelona into second with a hugely impressive 4-0 win at sixth-placed Real Sociedad last weekend and will be back to full strength as Mariano, Steven N'Zonzi and Franco Vazquez were all rested in midweek.