Jose Mourinho will not risk his main man today because Real Madrid regard Tuesday's Champions League return at Old Trafford as their biggest game this season.
With Real trailing Barcelona by 16 points in La Liga, Ronaldo is set to start on the bench this afternoon, though he may get a second-half run-out.
Another win against shell-shocked Barcelona could send the Catalans into a tailspin — but Mourinho knows beating United is far more important given that La Liga is all but over.
The Brazilian said: "Tuesday's match gave us a lot of confidence to know we can achieve great results, be it at the Nou Camp or at Old Trafford. We have to continue gaining in confidence."
Mourinho could rest most of the first team, with Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, Fabio Coentrao, Xabi Alonso, Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil all unlikely to start.
Ronaldo has scored seven goals in the past six Clasicos, bagging a double in last Tuesday's cup win to send Real through to face Atletico Madrid in the final.
The Portugal superstar wanted to continue this streak against the Catalan giants. But he knows the game against United is more important.
Barcelona will likely rest Xavi and Cesc Fabregas, who have hamstring niggles, but Lionel Messi has recovered from a fever.
The Ballon d'Or winner admitted Barca are numb after losing to Madrid, following a 2-0 first-leg defeat by AC Milan that left their Champions League hopes hanging by a thread.
Barca No 2 Jordi Roura — in charge again while Tito Vilanova is undergoing cancer treatment in America — dismissed talk of a crisis and launched a fierce defence of Messi.
He said: "When you have the best player in the world in your team, of course you notice when he doesn't score. But for Leo not to score in a couple of matches is an anecdote. We have total and absolute confidence in him."
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