Real Madrid vs Levante : Karim Benzema absence is Real blow to Madrid
Posted Friday, October 16, 2015 by PA
Real Madrid will have to do without their leading scorer Karim Benzema when they try to remain unbeaten in La Liga on Saturday against Levante at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The France forward, whose six goals are more than any other player in Spain's top flight has managed, suffered a hamstring injury while on international duty with Les Bleus last week.
Benzema is expected to sit out three Primera Division games as well as both Champions League games against Paris St Germain.
The 27-year-old scored twice in France's win over Armenia last week to end a one-year goal drought with his national team.
Benzema has scored seven goals in eight appearances in all competitions for Real this season.
Real coach Rafael Benitez is frustrated that he will have to do without his star.
"We had recovered the best Benzema," Benitez told Marca.
"We were careful with the minutes he played because we knew we had to look after him. This is why he had been replaced in recent games.
"Unfortunately, we cannot control what happens when he is in the hands of his national team coach."
Benzema was not the only Real player to get hurt while on international duty.
Midfielder Luka Modric sustained a thigh injury during Croatia's 3-0 triumph over Bulgaria in a Euro 2016 qualifier on Saturday.
"We work hard to try to prevent injuries," Benitez said.
"But we play twice a week and we have a lot of international players."
Benitez is also without injured trio Dani Carvajal, Pepe and James Rodriguez.
Los Blancos had a 1-1 draw at Atletico Madrid prior to the international break, a result that left them in second place, one point adrift of league leaders Villarreal.
Real and Celta Vigo are the only unbeaten sides in the division. The two clubs have each scored 15 goals and boast the best defensive line with just two conceded.
"We have the same points as the team had at this stage last season," Benitez said.
"We give away few goals while we score many. But there is still room for improvement and we can still be more efficient."
Cristiano Ronaldo, who this week was awarded a record fourth Golden Boot after topping Europe's goalscoring charts for the 2014-15 season with 48 strikes, will lead Real's attack this weekend.
Benitez says there is never any doubt about the Portuguese player's place in the squad.
"Cristiano is the only undisputed player in our starting XI," Benitez said. "The others have to fight for a spot."
Levante have lost their last seven La Liga games against Real.
Not since a 1-0 victory in 2007 have the Valencian outfit beaten Real at the Bernabeu.
Levante have won just one of their opening seven games, however, that was a 1-0 victory at home to La Liga leaders Villarreal last time out.
They are 18th in the standings and have conceded 12 goals.
"We need to try to minimise our mistakes," Levante defender Zou Feddal said on his club's official website.
"We face one of the best teams in the world and they will take advantage of our errors.
"We expect a very difficult game."
Levante coach Lucas Alcaraz will be without injured defender Ivan Lopez.
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