Ronaldo set for Madrid return

Soccer Betting Lines

09/10/2010 - Madrid, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Real Madrid will be boosted by the earlier- than-expected return of Cristiano Ronaldo on Saturday when the club gets set to host Osasuna.

Ronaldo suffered an ankle injury in Real's 0-0 draw with Mallorca to open the season, and it was expected that he would miss around three weeks, leaving him out of the game with Osasuna as well as a Champions League match with Ajax in midweek.

However, after sitting out two of Portugal's Euro 2012 qualifiers, Ronaldo has been included in Jose Mourinho's team for the home debut of the new manager.

Fellow Portugal international Pepe is also set to return to the lineup after last playing for Real in December because of injury.

Pepe was fit enough to play for Portugal in the World Cup this past summer, but he suffered another injury in training which kept him out of the opening match.

Mourinho will be without a number of talented players because of injury, a list that includes Kaka, Fernando Gago, Raul Albiol and Ezequiel Garay.

But the boss should be more concerned with bouncing back from the draw at Mallorca, with Barcelona cruising to a 3-0 win over Racing in its opener.

Osasuna played to a 0-0 draw of its own against Almeria, but former Madrid coach Jose Antonio Camacho can at least take some solace from the fact that Osasuna was beaten just 3-2 on an 89th-minute goal from Ronaldo in last season's match.

Barcelona will be hoping for another big result when the club hosts promoted side Hercules, while Valencia opened the season with a 3-1 win at Malaga and will look to build on that result against Racing.

Atletico Madrid has started extremely well this season with a UEFA Super Cup win over Inter Milan and a 4-0 victory over Sporting Gijon and they will try to keep that positive momentum going against Athletic Bilbao.

Sevilla's 4-1 win over Levante was a good start and they will face Deportivo, Espanyol travels to Villarreal, Sporting Gijon entertains Mallorca, Malaga meets Real Zaragoza, Levante hits the road to face Getafe and Almeria rounds out the weekend on Monday against Real Sociedad.

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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

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