Madrid –
Bad news for Real Madrid before the duel against Barcelona. Top scorer and captain Karim Benzema ruled out due to injury.
Benzema picked up a calf injury during Madrid’s 3-0 win over Mallorca last weekend. The French forward scored twice in that game but was withdrawn towards the end because he felt uncomfortable jumping up for an aerial duel.
This moment certainly made Madrid nervous because it happened less than a week before the duel against Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu, Sunday (20/3/2022) night WIB tomorrow.
Initially, the Madrid medical team hoped that Benzema’s thigh injury could recover in time through intensive care this week. Unfortunately in the last training session before the match The classicSaturday (19/3) local time, Benzema still has not joined.
As a result, Madrid had to give up the French striker was sidelined when entertaining Barcelona in the capital. Losing Benzema is certainly detrimental to Madrid given his important role in the attack line.
He is LaLiga’s top scorer with 22 goals and also 11 assists. Throughout this season, Benzema has made 32 goals and 13 assists from 34 appearances. Not only Benzema, Madrid also can’t play left back Ferland Mendy who was injured in the match against Mallorca.
“Karim, Mendy can’t play tomorrow. They will stay with us next week to train,” said the Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti as quoted ESPN.
“We don’t want to take any risks. Karim has to be absent, he hasn’t trained at all. He feels uncomfortable, it’s just a minor injury. Even though it makes him unable to train and of course he can’t play either,” he continued.
Absence Karim Benzema could threaten the slick pace of Real Madrid, which has won in its last five matches. Despite winning 15 points at the top, Madrid must be wary Barcelona the other on fire.
They have won their last five games, and are unbeaten in LaLiga since December. At the last meeting in the semifinals of the Spanish Super Cup. Madrid won 3-2.
(mrp/krs)
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