17/3/2022–|Last update: 3/17/202208:52 PM (Mecca)
Doubts are swirling about the participation of Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, in the summit against Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, after the Spanish Football League’s top scorer injured his calf.
The France striker was injured, after scoring two goals and creating a goal for the league leaders during the 3-0 victory over Mallorca last Monday.
Summary of the “Real Madrid” hat-trick against “Real Mallorca” before the Clasico next Sunday ????
Benzema did everything in this match ✅#RCDMallorcaRealMadrid 0-3 pic.twitter.com/3bmo3zMbiM— LaLiga (@LaLigaArab) March 14, 2022
Real will host their eternal rivals with an opportunity to consolidate their lead and continue to lift their spirits after the epic uprising against Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 of the Champions League last week.
The “Royal” has 66 points from 28 games, 10 points behind second-placed Seville, and 15 points from Barcelona, third in the standings.
With 11 matches remaining, Real is clinging to the hope of achieving the double of the domestic league and the Champions League this season.
The two rivals played a series of matches in which they achieved 4 consecutive victories, and both play with great confidence.
These are the stars of the last round in #LaLigaSantander ????????
The first star is…? ???????? pic.twitter.com/qn4Gr1tTKL
— LaLiga (@LaLigaArab) March 16, 2022
Barcelona’s development test with Xavi
Sunday’s match will give coach Xavi Hernandez an opportunity to show how much his team has evolved since arriving in mid-November.
Barcelona fell to ninth place when coach Ronald Koeman was sacked, but during his revival he has not lost since the overtime defeat against Athletic Bilbao in the King’s Cup on January 20, and has scored 20 goals in his last 6 league matches.
And if he wins at the top, Barcelona will confirm that he is moving in the right direction after leaving Lionel Messi before the start of the season due to financial problems.
Despite his late awakening, the Catalan team is fighting to finish the season in the golden square and secure a seat in the European Champions League, as only 4 points separate Barcelona and Real Sociedad, who is in sixth place.
I am the government@Benzema ????#LaLigaSntander pic.twitter.com/NFaIuQOdBh
— LaLiga (@LaLigaArab) March 14, 2022
Benzema’s absence from the Clasico
Local media speculated that Benzema would be absent from Sunday’s match, and he will remain in Madrid for treatment during the international period, instead of joining the France squad for two friendlies against Ivory Coast and South Africa.
Real announced that defender Ferland Mendy will be absent for the next two weeks due to a hamstring injury, but Rodrygo, who was injured in the Mallorca match, can play on Sunday.