Real Madrid prime scorer Karim Benzema will miss the Clasico towards Barcelona and the upcoming France internationals with a calf harm, coach Carlo Ancelotti stated on Saturday.
Real enter the weekend 10 factors clear at the highest of La Liga. They are 15 factors away from third-placed Barcelona, who they host on Sunday evening.
Benzema has been included within the France squad introduced by Didier Deschamps on Thursday for the friendlies towards Ivory Coast on March 25 and South Africa on March 29.
“We never take risks with him,” Ancelotti stated. “He continues to be in ache. It’s a small harm, nevertheless it prevents him from coaching and enjoying. »
The worldwide break offers Benzema extra time to get well.
“We can have two weeks to organize him for the tip of the season, the place he will likely be essential, as at all times. It at all times comes again from little glitches like this, and it at all times made a distinction. »
Benzema scored twice on Monday at Mallorca to take his profession tally to 413 objectives, breaking a tie with Thierry Henry at the highest of France’s all-time goalscoring record.
Benzema limped off within the 87th minute visibly hampered by ache in his left calf, leaving his teammates to complete the sport right down to 10 males.
He is by far the highest scorer in La Liga with 22 objectives. His teammate Vinicius Junior is tied for second out of 14.
Ancelotti has loads of choices. Vinicius, Rodrygo and Marco Asensio have performed essentially the most this season however the coach might additionally recall Mariano Diaz, Luka Jovic, Eden Hazard or Gareth Bale.
“Everything is decided, but I won’t tell you anything,” Ancelotti stated.
“We want to be at our best and it will be a game that will involve a lot of different elements. We can’t think that doing one thing well will be enough to win the game. We are going to have to produce a strong all-round performance,” he stated.
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