Los Blancos have lost another key player ahead of Saturday’s visit to Real Valladolid in La Liga.
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has confirmed Karim Benzema is out of the game away to Real Valladolid after missing training on Friday morning.
A big week awaits in two potential key clashes. The Spanish giants face Valladolid first on Saturday in a La Liga match before heading to Italy four days later to take on Atalanta in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. So the potential loss of top-scorer Benzema is naturally a huge setback.
Real Madrid's injuries this season:
🏥 Carvajal x4
🏥 Hazard x3 (+Covid🦠)
🏥 Ramos x2
🏥 Militao x2 (+Covid🦠)
🏥 Lucas x2
🏥 Odri x2
🏥 Marcelo x2
🏥 Nacho x2 (+Covid🦠)
🏥 Isco x2
🏥 Fede x2
🏥 Benzema x2❗
🏥 Kroos
🏥 Casemiro (Covid🦠)
🏥 Mariano
🏥 Asensio
🏥 Rodrygo— Madrid Xtra. (@MadridXtra) February 19, 2021
According to Marca, the Frenchman wasn’t seen at the club’s Valdebebas training complex on Friday. He is reportedly suffering discomfort from a knock. Therefore, Zidane has decided to not risk him against Valladolid. It’s uncertain at this stage, however, if the Real Madrid manager will have his striker back for the visit to Atalanta.
“He won’t be available tomorrow. He has something, a discomfort, and as it happened yesterday, he won’t be there tomorrow,” said Zidane in his pre-match conference.
“We will see what will happen for the Atalanta game.”
Sergio Ramos, Dani Carvajal, Rodrygo, Fede Valverde, Alvaro Odriozola, Eden Hazard, Marcelo and Eder Militao all remain sidelined.
Castilla stars Hugo Duro, Blanco, Víctor Chust, Miguel Gutierrez, Carrillo and Arribas all trained with the first-team instead.