Karim Benzema will lead the line and serve as Real Madrid’s captain against Real Valladolid in his first game back after missing the previous six weeks.
With several injuries and a rumored falling out with the French football association, Benzema missed six weeks of action, which led to his international retirement. But now that he has received full clearance to play, he will take the field right away in Madrid’s first league game following the World Cup break.
The star striker completes a modified Madrid starting lineup. The bench includes Luka Modric, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Eduardo Camavinga, players who competed until the very end of the World Cup. But despite watching his country’s team lose in the round of eight, Brazilian winger Vinicius Jr. has kept his spot.
Benzema has had a strange few weeks. Due to muscle exhaustion, he played only four minutes of football in November. Later, he is said to have torn a muscle in his thigh while training with France, which prevents him from competing in the World Cup. However, those close to him argued that the Frenchman should have been able to play for his country starting in the round of 16, and rumors of a dispute with manager Didier Deschamps abounded.
He’s back on the field right now, regardless of the situation. The current Ballon d’Or winner has five goals to his credit in seven league games so far this year.
The striker will try to stay as physically fit as possible as Madrid’s schedule fills up.