Good news in Valdebebas: Karim Benzema trained with the group this Friday and wins integers for the match between Atlético and Real Madrid Sunday at the Wanda Metropolitano, starting at 4:15 p.m. Very good news for Zidane, who was confident of having the Frenchman for a fundamental derby for Madrid's options in LaLiga (he needs to win to cut the five points away, with Atleti still having one game less). Not surprisingly, he is Madrid's best scorer, with 17 goals, 12 of them in the league.
Benzema was injured in mid-February and has already missed three games for una muscle micro-rupture. He did not play against Valladolid, Atalanta and Real Sociedad, although Zidane did trust him to reach the derby: “Karim can be with us. That is the idea. Let's see, because he has not yet trained with the team. He is much better from the annoyance. Tomorrow we will see,” he said after the draw against Real last day. This Friday, he was finally able to work at a good pace with the rest of his teammates.
There is only one training session left before the derby against Atlético; If Benzema completes it with the group, he will safely enter the call-up and will probably go to the starting eleven, although his point of form will be unknown, with so little time to spare. Although his absence would have been much worse, at a time when Zidane has a shortage of forwards.
One less problem for Zidane
Mariano was injured Thursday with a problem with his left external shutter. The Spanish-Dominican practically does not count for Zidane, but with Benzema absent he would leave with many options to be a starter. If Benzema is finally ready to start, the Marseille coach will have dodged the bullet. The other option should have been Jovic, but the Serbian left in January on loan to Eintracht, given the few opportunities he received from Zidane. And in the bedroom, the emergency plans: Asensio, Rodrygo, Hugo Duro …
Those who were not with the group were Hazard, Ramos, Carvajal and Mariano; all four continue with their respective recoveries. Zidane is confident that he can count so that the Belgian and the Sevillian can enter the squad against Elche next weekend, with a bit of luck.