This Friday evening, at 9:30 p.m., French striker Karim Benzema “KB9” will start with Real Madrid against the Valladolid club for the resumption of the Spanish championship, La Liga, five weeks after his withdrawal from the 2022 World Cup in due to a thigh injury. According to the squad roster announced by Real on their social media, captain Karim Benzema will be at the forefront of Madrid’s attack alongside Vinicius and Marco Asensio.
Dismissed from the France team due to a left thigh injury on November 19, just three days before the entry into the running of the Blues against Australia, Benzema awaited the sad defeat of France in the final against Argentina to announce the “end” of his international career.
“He came back pretty well, he started working with the team”
“Karim returned on December 10, after the vacation we gave to everyone who was at the World Cup. He came back pretty well, he started working with the team. He played thirty minutes in the first friendly match, then 45, and his physical condition improved. He is very enthusiastic about the idea of returning, because he played little during the first half of the season, and I am sure that he will show all his quality, ”said his coach Carlo Ancelotti on Thursday.
“I am not going to comment on the decision that France has taken. For them, he did not have the opportunity to play at the World Cup. For us, we saw a player full of motivation and enthusiasm return. He will help us a lot in the second half of the season,” Carlo Ancelotti also said.
The last match of “KB9” in competition dates back to November 2: he had played 28 minutes in the big 5-1 victory against Celtic Glasgow in the Champions League, at the Bernabéu. His last complete match dates back to October 19 in Elche, in La Liga (success 3-0).
Real Madrid, second in La Liga two points behind FC Barcelona, can temporarily take the lead this Friday evening if they succeed in Valladolid, before the Catalan derby of the 15th day between Barça and Espanyol Barcelona on Saturday, at 14 hours.