Real Madrid superstar was omitted for the match against Real Sociedad. Karim Benzema, a notable player for Real Madrid, was not included in the team’s traveling matchday squad to face Real Sociedad in the league later today (May 2).
The club’s official Twitter account posted the list, which featured young players like Alvaro Rodriguez, Nico Paco, Sergio Arribas, and Rodrigo Dotor. The Daily Mail reports that no explanation for Benzema’s absence has been given.
Despite a season marred by injuries, the Frenchman has been the team’s talisman, scoring 29 goals and dishing out six assists in 37 games across all competitions. Given his age and recent fitness issues, Carlo Ancelotti might want to control the 35-year-old’s playing time.
After all, Real Madrid will face Osasuna in the Copa del Rey championship game on May 6. Three days later, Manchester City will visit Los Blancos for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal matchup.
In eight games for the La Liga giants in various competitions in April, Benzema had a busy schedule. Additionally, Real Madrid’s chances of winning the league are extremely slim. Barcelona appears certain to win the league trophy, despite the statistical chance of a comeback in the title battle.
With only six games remaining in the season, the Catalan giants lead the La Liga standings by an 11-point margin. Real Madrid, who have played 32 league games, are likewise expected to place in the top four, with a 15-point advantage over Villarreal in fifth place.
Real Madrid’s manager hails Barcelona, a potential La Liga champion:
Carlo Ancelotti, the coach of Real Madrid, has lauded Barcelona for their continued dominance in the league. The Catalan giants are on track to claim the league championship for the first time since the 2018–19 campaign. Even though they were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League and the Europa League earlier in this season, their fans will remember this season because they have a chance to win La Liga.
Ancelotti confessed during his pre-game news conference before the league match against Real Sociedad, according to the club’s official website (h/t MadridUniversal): “I always highlight the advantages of the competitor. Barcelona has a lot of points and deserves to win. We occasionally seem to believe that eliminating the offensive quality will solve all of our problems. That won’t always be the case, though. We must strengthen our defensive focus.”
In the league this year, the defense has been the deciding factor between the two teams. Real Madrid has conceded 30 goals in La Liga, 19 more than the team from Catalonia. Despite their 4-2 La Liga victory over UD Almeria on April 29, Ancelotti recently criticized his team’s subpar defensive performance.
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