Benzema set for three weeks on the sidelines
Alarm bells are ringing at Real Madrid after Karim Benzema was taken off injured in the 81st minute of France’s win over Armenia with a hamstring injury.
The striker, who scored two goals in the game, left the pitch towards the end of the second half, with Didier Deschamps replacing him with Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud.
Even though early tests welcome optimism, the player has left the France camp to return to Madrid where he will undergo more analysis.
Initial reports suggest he will be out for three weeks, missing games against Levante, Celta Vigo and Paris Saint-Germain.
His teammate for club and country, Raphael Varane, said after the game that “it doesn’t seem to serious, but it’s a concern.”
Benzema is the top goalscorer in La Liga so far this season with six goals, one more than Cristiano Ronaldo, and Benitez will be keen not to lose him for any length of time.
The Madrid coach has already had to do without Sergio Ramos, Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez, among others, for parts of the current campaign.
