[/caption]Cristiano Ronaldo’s match ban is over! The € 94 million signing will finally return to La Liga action this weekend with Real Madrid when Los Blancos play against Xerez away from home on match-day 22.

This fixture could prove to be very tricky:

While struggling Xerez will try and pull out an upset on their own soil, Real Madrid will try to repeat the 5-0 exploit which they recorded against the Azulinos at the Santiago Bernabeu last September.

Xerez analyses

Xerez occupy the last place in the table standings. Their chances of surviving relegation look slim:

They have a total of only 11 points only after 21 games played, and they are 6 points off Tenerife (who are 19th). However, the Azulinos refuse to give in on their dream of staying in Spain’s Primera Division for another year.

Playing against Real Madrid on Saturday evening could present two outcomes:

A positive result which will boost Xerez’s spirit but shock the Spanish giants.

An “expected” negative result (as many may think) which will add more salt to their wounds.

Real Madrid analyses

Los Blancos could enjoy a perfect weekend; that is if they beat Xerez and if Barcelona lose to Atletico Madrid in the match of the week on Sunday.

Five points separate Real Madrid from the 2008/09 La Liga champions. The gap will therefore be cut to two points if the Spanish giants grab a victory.

Real Madrid defeated Xerez 5-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu when the two teams met in the first half of Spain’s La Liga campaign.

Cristiano Ronaldo facts

From Reuters Images

Cristiano Ronaldo scored after only 47 seconds against Xerez when Real Madrid hosted the Azulinos in the first part of the campaign.

He went on to clinch a brace with a second half header and might have recorded a hat-trick as well but he was taken off as a substitute.

In La Liga’s top scorers chart, Cristiano Ronaldo is in sixth place like Diego Forlan with 9 goals while Lionel Messi tops the list with 16 goals.

Cristiano Ronaldo will only be playing in his 13th La Liga game this season. The Portuguese star winger missed as much as seven league matches for Real Madrid through injury and suspension.

The year 2010 hasn’t been so great for Cristiano Ronaldo so far but on Saturday, he could put all his troubles behind him by helping Real Madrid defeat Xerez in order to keep pace with Barcelona in La Liga standings.

Angela Asante, Footballfantalk.com