Hope with Benzema

Karim Benzema signs up for the derby. The French striker feeds hopes of being available for Carlo Ancelotti in tomorrow’s derby Sunday (9pm, Movistar LaLiga) against Atlético. The madridista striker worked with the rest of the group in the first exercises of the last training session of the white team prior to the confrontation against his eternal rival from the capital. Benzema had been working individually all week, either in the gym or on the pitch, due to hamstring problems that made him retire in the first minutes of last Saturday’s league game against Real Sociedad.

Benzema’s presence in training is a good indication of his possible participation in the derby tomorrow. Within the club they were not willing to risk with Ancelotti’s ‘9’, who will only align him if the footballer feels 100% to face the game. The Madrid coach will express his opinion in the appearance before the media that will take place from 1:00 p.m. (live on AS.com) in the press room of Real Madrid City in Valdebebas.

Benzema has only missed two games this season. That of the Inter Champions League last Tuesday and the visit to Elche in the League, a match in which Ancelotti gave him rest after Karim trained in the gym on the eve of that match. Benzema is currently the league’s top scorer, with 12 goals, and also the team’s top scorer in all competitions. He has scored another five goals in the Champions League that make him add 17 goals in the total count of the white season. He has played 1,687 minutes spread over 20 games (15 in the League and five in the Champions League), which makes him the sixth most used player by Ancelotti.