Benzema's injury that alerts Ancelotti's policy of untouchables at Real Madrid

• Benzema misses the penalty and leaves injured

scare

may remain at that, although we will have to wait for his evolution in the coming days.

needs him for the Cup duel with only one card, but what a card: San Mamés.

The muscle contracture detected in the first exploration of the Frenchman, who retired at game time against Elche after noticing discomfort in his hamstrings, could allow him to be in a position to play against Athletic, but the alert is activated.

Benzema has played 2,359 minutes this season in all competitions.

The sum places him as the sixth most used by Ancelotti, while at Atlético he would only be surpassed by

(2,700) and at Barça by

(2,582) and

(2,490).

The madridistas have played two more games, one day in the League and the Super Cup final.

Despite this, the differences are substantial.

Of those over 30 years of age, Benzema has been the footballer who has played the most minutes for Madrid, only surpassed by Courtois,

,

,

and

, who will reach thirty next month (see graph).

and

they have played the equivalent of five games less.

A huge difference.

The ubiquity that the coach wants from Benzema also comes in the season in which the player has returned to play with the French team, which he joined in the last European Championship and with which, in October, he played and won the League of Nations.

A duality that the French striker had not been able to interpret in the last six years.

The return is good for your self-esteem and leadership, but it involves obvious wear and tear.

WITHOUT AREA FORWARDS

Benzema has no replica as a footballer in Madrid and hardly in the market, given the level he has acquired and his versatility in attack, becoming the top scorer (17) and second assistant in the League (7).

It is somewhat understandable.

The dramatic thing, however, is that he has no replacement, with a misfit

and a different Mariano, who lack Ancelotti's confidence.

When the Italian was asked about

's goals , like the one that prevented the defeat against Elche, he replied that the defender is "our best header."

"The characteristics of the strikers are not from the area," he added, resigned.

Minutes played main teams

The Frenchman is from the area and from everywhere, a nine and a half who, since Cristiano's departure, has increased his goalscoring efficiency, something that he was criticized for, while continuing to be the apex of the attack for everything.

Jovic is also from the area and was on the pitch, but the coach's statement is the best proof that he is not in his head.

When thinking about the strikers, he thought of Vinicius,

, Asensio... Nor did

, the starter, or

, who was on the bench against Elche, belong to the category he was referring to.

AN ELEVEN CLEAR LESS ONE PLACE

The Italian coach once again kept his regulars against Elche with no room for rotations, except for the changes forced by absences such as

or

.

The attacking position on the right, occupied on this occasion by Hazard, is the only one that does not seem awarded.

Although at the start of the season Ancelotti offered more alternatives, after the defeats against Sheriff, in the Champions League, and Espanyol, he opted for a group of "big players", untouchables, which has meant an accumulation of minutes for the main players of the squad , well above those of Atlético or Barcelona.

If the 10 players with the most minutes are taken as an average, the sum of these is 22,463 minutes in the case of the madridistas, 19,573 for the rojiblancos and 19,106 for the azulgrana.

The outfield player from these last two teams who accumulates the most minutes,

(2,582), would be the sixth on the white team.

Ancelotti knows that his Madrid ended up broke at the end of his first stage, but now, whenever they ask him about the rotations, he raises his eyebrow.

When the Champions returns, next month, we will see.

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Know more

• Eden Hazard

• luka jović

• Cristiano Ronaldo

• Mariano Diaz

• France National Soccer Team

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