Benzema fit to join Real Madrid
Real Madrid and France striker Karim Benzema is back in La Liga leaders' squad to face Betis in Seville on Saturday night after making a faster than expected recovery from a thigh muscle tear.
Real Madrid and France striker Karim Benzema is back in La Liga leaders' squad to face Betis in Seville on Saturday night after making a faster than expected recovery from a thigh muscle tear.
Madrid confirmed on their website that the fit-again Benzema and suspension-free Pepe return after missing last weekend's 5-0 home victory against Espanyol, a result that kept Jose Mourinho's side ten points clear of Barcelona at the league summit.
Benzema, who has scored 13 league goals this season, suffered the injury in his side's Champions League last-16 first-leg away to CSKA Moscow on February 21, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
He had been expected to spend three weeks on the sidelines.
Benzema is likely to be on the bench against Betis, but will hope to start in Wednesday's second-leg against CSKA.
Angel Di Maria, Fabio Coentrao and Ricardo Carvalho will all be missing for the game against a Betis side who come into the weekend in 12th place in La Liga after 25 matches.