His participation in the friendly matches of the Blues against Côte d'Ivoire (March 25 in Marseille) and South Africa (March 29 in Lille) is more than compromised, according to the Italian technician.

"Karim (Benzema) and (Ferland) Mendy will not be able to play tomorrow (Sunday). They will stay here with us next week," Ancelotti said at noon on Saturday at a pre-match press conference.

"We never took any risks with him, not even in Paris. He still has some pain. It's a small injury, but it prevents him from training and playing," said "Carletto".

After delivering an assist and scoring two goals on Monday in Mallorca for the 28th day of La Liga, thus becoming with 413 goals the top French scorer in history ahead of Thierry Henry (411), Karim Benzema left in the 87th minute visibly embarrassed by a pain in the left calf, leaving his teammates to finish the match at ten.

The joy of Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, who has become France's top scorer in history, after his 2 goals scored against Mallorca, during the 28th day of LaLiga, on March 14, 2022 in Palma de Mallorca JAIME REINA AFP / Archives

"Small pains like that happen. But his absence tomorrow (Sunday) does not worry me. We will have two weeks to prepare him for the end of the season, where he will be very important, as always. He has always come back little glitches like that, and he always made the difference. I think he got injured at the right times in the season, when his body needed to recover," continued the Italian technician.

Real Madrid's Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti chats with French striker Karim Benzema during the Champions League group match against Shakhtar Donetsk on November 3, 2021 at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU AFP/Archives

What alternatives?

The medical examinations passed by the player on Friday seemed encouraging, but "KB9" trained alone indoors on Friday, and did not take part in collective training on Saturday morning, the day before the clasico.

To compensate for the absence of his favorite centre-forward, top scorer and best assistor in the Spanish league this season (22 goals and 11 assists in 25 La Liga matches), Ancelotti has several options.

He could start Mariano or Luka Jovic, pure centre-forwards but who have had little playing time this season;

associate Vinicius with Rodrygo and Marco Asensio, the attackers who have accompanied Benzema the most on the front of the merengue attack over the current exercise;

even give a chance to Eden Hazard or Gareth Bale, forgotten on the bench for a long time.

Real Madrid midfielder Marco Asensio congratulates Brazilian striker Vinicius Junior, after his goal scored against Real Valladolid, during the 4th day of LaLiga, September 30, 2020 at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium in Valdebebas PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU AFP /Archives

"Everything is decided, but I won't tell you anything," slipped Ancelotti on Saturday.

Benzema (34) has already missed three matches due to injury a few weeks ago: on January 23 against Elche, he came out in the 58th minute by touching the back of his left leg, and was replaced by the forward. Serbian center Luka Jovic.

He returned just in time for the knockout round of the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes on February 15.

© 2022 AFP