Blow for Los Blancos! Benzema forced to sit out Club World Cup semi-final against Al Ahly with injury
- Striker to miss semi-final
- Possible return for potential final
- Courtois, Militao, Mendy also out
WHAT HAPPENED? Madrid released their full squad list for the clash against Al Ahly on Monday morning, and it didn't include their club captain. Benzema sustained a leg injury against Valencia on February 2, being withdrawn after less than an hour.
📋✅ ¡Los 22 jugadores que viajan a Rabat! #ClubWC pic.twitter.com/rUMNcykgRf
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) February 6, 2023
Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao, Lucas Vazquez and Ferland Mendy are also not listed in the squad. Benzema, Courtois and Militao could be in contention to play if Madrid make the final.
THE BIGGER PICTURE: With La Liga slipping away and a pair of potentially tricky cup ties approaching, the Club World Cup is perhaps the easiest avenue for silverware this year for Los Blancos.
WHAT THEY SAID?: Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti insisted that Real would continue to fight on every front: "We will not throw any tournaments away, we are very close... In the [Spanish] cup semi-finals, last 16 in Europe, Club World Cup semis," he said.
IN THREE PHOTOS:
WHAT NEXT FOR BENZEMA? The striker will miss out on the Club World Cup semi-final, and a solid return date is yet to be confirmed.