Benitez unfazed by injuries

Rafa Benitez is keeping Real Madrid's spate of early-season injuries in perspective. Far from getting in a spin, the 'Los Blancos' head coach commented:

"There haven't been that many injuries. It's par for the course for a big team with a heavy schedule of games playing top-level football. As far as fitness is concerned, the team are responding with a lot of intensity. The number of injuries is standard. Two players [James and Danilo] were injured on international duty and two others were impact or contact injuries, which can't be helped".

Gareth Bale is another on Real's list of walking wounded, on whom Benitez revealed: "It's a minor injury, so we hope he'll be back as quickly as possible. Based on the experience of previous years, the progress of his recovery has always been good".