Cristiano Ronaldo will not be available for Real Madrid’s La Liga clash at home to Elche on Saturday after a final appeal against his suspension was turned down.
The Ballon d’Or winner has already served two games of the three-match ban he received for his red card and subsequent dissent in Real’s 1-1 draw away to Athletic Bilbao earlier this month.
Ronaldo had been included in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad for the game as Real hoped Spain’s new administrative sports court would uphold their appeal.
However, Ancelotti will instead be forced to stick with in-form 20-year-old forward Jese Rodriguez alongside Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema in attack.
A victory for Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu will move them three points clear at the top of the table as title rivals Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are not in action until later on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
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