Real Madrid captain Karim Benzema will not be available for selection on Sunday against Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu after suffering a calf injury.
The striker missed Madrid’s Saturday training session and is likely to concentrate on getting fit for next month’s Champions League quarter-final matches against Chelsea
Benzema was injured after grabbing an assist and two late goals as Real Madrid defeated Mallorca 3-0 on Monday.
Benzema’s absence from El classico will be a big blow to Real Madrid, as they hope to see him shine after bagging 11 goals in his career against the Catalans, while they are the side he has provided most assists against, with 10.
Carlo Ancelotti during a press conference today assured fans that Real Madrid will still beat Barcelona without Captain Karim Benzema
“I have made a decision on who is going to replace Benzema but I’m not going to tell you who it is.
“Bale is an alternative to Benzema, as is Mariano, Jovic, Isco and Rodrygo. There are a lot of options but I will choose the one I think is best for this match.”
Despite the absence of Benzema, Ancelotti showed an outwardly confident outlook on his team’s chances.
“We can beat Barcelona without Benzema. He is very important part [of the team], a great finisher. We have to look for different solutions in attack without Benzema.”
