MY ACCOUNT
Karim Benzema is a doubt for Real Madrid’s Champions League clash with Italian champions Inter on Tuesday but could be fit for their derby with Atletico Madrid.
The France striker limped out in the 17th minute of Madrid’s 2-0 win over Real Sociedad on Saturday clutching his hamstring and grimacing before he was replaced by Luka Jovic.
When asked about the injury Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti suggested he would not be fit to face Inter at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Madrid have already qualified for the knockout phase of the Champions League but must avoid defeat to go through as winners of Group D.
That task will be made more difficult without Benzema who leads the goals (12) and assists (seven) charts in LaLiga and has scored five goals in the Champions League.
Ancelotti’s side also host rivals and defending champions Atletico, who they have a 10-point advantage over, next weekend.
“The Benzema thing doesn’t seem serious at all. But I don’t think it will be available for Tuesday,” Ancelotti told a media conference.
“Karim has had a problem, it bothered him a little and it don’t I think it will be for Tuesday but maybe for Sunday, yes.”
Benzema’s replacement Jovic scored his first LaLiga goal of the season against Sociedad, and provided the assist for Vinicius Junior’s opening goal.
It meant he scored and assisted in the same game for the first time in all competitions (41 appearances) and was involved in the same number of goals than in his previous 22 games (one goal and one assist in 462 minutes).
“For me, Jovic is a good striker,” Ancelotti said.
“He is a very strong striker, he uses the ball very well. His first goal play is very much his style and I want to congratulate him.
“Enjoy and take advantage of the opportunity. I congratulate him because he doesn’t play a lot and he deserved to play. And there are others who deserve to play and this is my biggest problem.”
Madrid defender Eder Militao made 10 clearances against Sociedad (nine headed clearances), the most by a player for Los Blancos in a match this season in all competitions.
Ancelotti hailed his partnership with David Alaba as one which brings the best out of both players.
“The quality of the two is extraordinary,” he said.
“They are different. Militao is very strong, incredible, and Alaba adapts very well. They understand each other very well and complement each other very well.”
