Real Madrid are set to take on arguably their toughest test of the season when they travel to Metropolitano to take on Atletico Madrid this Sunday. Carlo Ancelotti’s side have been perfect this season till now and will be confident of their chances, but at the same time, they must be worried going into a game of this magnitude, most probably without Karim Benzema.
Benzema got injured in the Champions League opener against Celtic and has not featured since then. Ancelotti has not completely ruled out his chances of featuring this Sunday, but they are looking slim at best.
As reported by Mundo Deportivo, Benzema is still out of the team two days before the Madrid derby and, except for a surprise, he will be absent from Los Blancos’ visit to the Metropolitano. The club take it for granted that he will not make it to the match.
That is a blow for Real Madrid for sure, as they have not looked the most convincing going forward in the absence of Benzema.
Real Madrid’s Benzema hopes handed blow for Atletico Madrid game
Since Benzema has been out injured, Ancelotti has tried playing both Eden Hazard and Rodrygo in false nine roles in order to fill the Frenchman’s void.
It is safe to say that both experiments failed and neither of them was able to put up a decent performance while playing in that role.
In the game vs RB Leipzig, Real Madrid might have won 2-0, but they looked toothless up front for the majority of the game. Will they be able to squeeze out a result against a side like Atletico Madrid though, who are expected to be defensively as solid as possible. The onus of finding the back of the net on the day will most probably be on the shoulders of Vinicius Jr.