Karim Benzema & Eduardo Camavinga out for Real Madrid

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has announced that Karim Benzema will not play against Girona in La Liga on Tuesday. This is a blow for the Merengues as they prepare for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Manchester City in two weeks’ time.

Ancelotti is unwilling to take any risks with the French striker. With little left to play for in La Liga, where Barcelona are 11 points clear at the top, the Madrid boss wants to preserve Benzema for the key fixtures at the end of the season: the Champions League semi-finals (May 9 and 17) and the Copa del Rey final (May 14).

“Benzema and Camavinga received a knock and won’t be available,” Ancelotti said in a press conference on Monday ahead of the Girona match, transcribed by RMC Sport. “If he recovers from the knock, he will play on Saturday (against Almeria). He is too important for us.”

However, Ancelotti clarified that resting his French players is not the only reason for their absence: “If the Champions League semi-final was tomorrow, they wouldn’t play either.” The Ballon d’Or winner was reportedly dealing with a left calf injury and did not train on Monday, along with his compatriot Eduardo Camavinga. Benzema has started the last nine games for Real Madrid across all competitions, scoring eight goals in the process.

GFFN | George Boxall