Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Karim Benzema will miss Sunday’s Clasico clash with Barcelona. LaLiga’s all-time leading scorer with 22 goals, Benzema will not be available for the Blaugrana at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Frenchman scored two goals in Monday’s 3-0 win over Real Mallorca but limped towards the end of the competition showing a problem with his calf.
Ancelotti, also without Ferland Mendy, has revealed that Benzema will not be joining Les Bleus during the next break.
Speaking to the media during his pre-match conference on Saturday, the Italian midfielder said: “Both [Benzema] and Mendy are out of action and will not be going to France. They live in Madrid.
“He has not trained with the team, he is still upset. Karim is the most important part because he finishes all the work, but without him, you have to keep that job and look for different solutions.
“It has already been decided who will play [in his place]. But I will not tell you.”
Benzema’s league goals came at a rate of 93.55 minutes, and he is leading the league standings with 11 already on his name.
Asked if he was worried about Benzema’s recent retrenchment, Ancelotti said: “He is a 34-year-old player, and sometimes it could happen to him.
They are very small offenders and you have recovered very quickly, when he comes back he has made a difference.
“We have two more weeks to work with him and he will make a difference again.
“I do not worry that he will not play tomorrow because we have time for him to play at the end of the season and make a difference.
Madrid sit top of LaLiga, 10 points adrift of second-placed Sevilla. Barcelona, who are in third place, are 15 points behind Madrid with a game in hand.