Ronaldo unconcerned by goal drought

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April 08, 2005 20:50 IST

Real Madrid striker Ronaldo remained unconcerned by his recent barren run of form in front of goal as his team prepared for this weekend's showdown with Primera Liga leaders Barcelona.

"I'm the first person that wants to score goals, I've scored them all my life and when this bad run ends I will continue to score them," the Brazil international told reporters at the Bernabeu on Friday.

"However, I'm not obsessed or worried about scoring. There are a lot of other things in the world that concern me far more.

"This is just a sport. A ball has got to cross the line and go into the net and when that happens all the pressure will be over and I hope that that happens as soon as possible."

Ronaldo, who has scored just one goal in the last 11 league games, will almost certainly start up front for Real in Sunday's match at the Bernabeu but the identity of his strike partner is not yet certain.

If training on Friday was anything to go by, Real coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo is considering playing both the in-form Michael Owen and skipper Raul, at the expense of Portuguese winger Luis Figo.

Barcelona are anxiously waiting to see if their captain Carles Puyol and Brazilian forward Ronaldinho can play.

Ronaldinho was unable to train with his team mates for the third day in succession because of a stomach complaint, while Puyol is following a special programme as he tries to recover from an ankle strain.

The club said, however, that both players were expected to train with their team mates on Saturday.

Barcelona have a nine-point cushion over Real Madrid at the top of the league with eight games left to play.

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