Karim Benzema, the return.
Out since September 6 and a thigh injury during Real's 3-0 victory over Celtic in Glasgow, the 34-year-old international striker is operational.
"
I'm ready
," he simply said in recent days, during a gala evening organized by the daily
Marca
.
The violins are tuned on the Madrid side, since Real coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed in a press conference that his star striker is doing "
very well
", even ensuring that Benzema "
will start
" this Sunday (9 p.m.), against Osasuna, on the seventh day of La Liga.
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And the Italian coach to explain
:
“
He trained well.
He's been with the team all week.
His physical condition is good, he recovered well.
“Excellent news for the Merengue who recover their number 9, captain and top scorer.
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Life was not very difficult without him, however, as the team continued their flawless performance in the league and the Champions League.
In addition to winning the match against Celtic, which Benzema had to leave prematurely (0-3), his teammates also beat Mallorca (4-1) and Leipzig (2-0), before a prestigious victory in the derby against the Atletico (1-2).
But Carlo Ancelotti had to tinker a bit on the attacking front, first entrusting Eden Hazard and then Rodrygo with this number 9 position for which there is no natural replacement for the Frenchman.
It is above all … a midfielder who shone during his absence, namely the Uruguayan Federico Valverde, author of three goals in three matches.
Thus, there is no doubt that the Italian technician is delighted with the return of the one he described as "
spectacular player
" and who, through his goals as well as his influence on the game, weighs so much in the results of his team.
Less than two months before the World Cup
If Real knew perfectly how to manage the absence of Karim Benzema, the same cannot be said of the French team which posted a mixed record for its last two Nations League matches against Austria (2-0 victory ) then Denmark (2-0 defeat).
To say that this is only due to the absence of the Madrid player would be to forget that Didier Deschamps was also deprived of many other executives through injury (Lloris, Kanté, Pogba ...), but it is certain Benzema missed on the front of the offensive.
The Giroud-Mbappé-Griezmann association worked rather well against Austria, less so in Copenhagen.
Since his return to the selection, the former Lyonnais has been a strong man for Deschamps who obviously wants to make him a full holder for the World Cup this winter (November 20 - December 18).
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To prepare for Qatar, Benzema therefore has a little less than two months ahead of him.
Will he go to Doha in the shoes of the Ballon d'Or?
The ceremony takes place on October 17 and he is the big favorite.
“
I hope it will be him because he deserves it given his sporting season with his club, where he won important titles, and then with us too
,” Didier Deschamps told a press conference.
The coming weeks promise to be intense, and Real Madrid are preparing to play every three days.
Will Benzema manage to regain the form he was in before his departure from the field, in the continuity of his exceptional last season?
If Ancelotti admits that his striker was "
affected
" by his injury, he did not however find anything abnormal in his behavior.
"
If he hasn't scored in recent matches, it's because he hasn't played
," even joked the Italian.
“
I think after this time when he hasn't played, we're going to see the same Karim that we've always seen.
Confirmation this Sunday at the Bernabeu?
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