Real Madrid should not satisfied that Karim Benzema will likely be match sufficient to participate in Sunday’s heavyweight match with Barcelona.
The 34-year-old’s outrageous type – 9 objectives and 4 assists in his final 5 matches – most likely appears to have been ended by a calf harm that was taken up throughout the 3-0 victory over Mallorca, the place he netted twice and created the second.
Marca notes that he has undergone exams and the membership docs are satisfied that he has not suffered something severe – however given their stable lead within the La Liga title race, Real are reluctant to take any pointless dangers with Benzema.
Real are ten factors forward of Sevilla in second place and one other 5 forward of Barcelona, and though they clearly see El Clasico as a large match, there’s a sense {that a} defeat wouldn’t be the tip of the world.
Instead, Real’s focus is now primarily on profitable the Champions League. Carlo Ancelotti is prepared for a reunion with the reigning champions Chelsea after the worldwide break and he would moderately make sure that Benzema is in form and wholesome for these matches.
As a consequence, Benzema’s probabilities of taking part in in Sunday’s match have been set at simply 40% on Friday.
The concern for Ancelotti is the dearth of firepower within the squad behind Benzema. The Frenchman leads Real’s scoring listing with 22 league objectives, adopted by the one different participant to hit double digits; Vinicius Junior with 14.
Luka Jovic has just one La Liga aim in 17 video games this yr, whereas Mariano Diaz is goalless in his 4 fleeting appearances. Marco Asensio, the third finest aim scorer with eight, is subsequently anticipated to get the nod as a false 9.
