Injuries continue to haunt Real, Barca

Either side can take top spot if results go their way

MADRID: Real Madrid will have to overcome an injury to leading scorer Karim Benzema as the spluttering capital club return to domestic duty on Saturday when they host struggling Levante.

Rafael Benitez’s side have slipped to second, one point behind surprise leaders Villarreal, following successive draws against Malaga and city rivals Atletico.

Real remain one of two unbeaten sides, alongside Celta Vigo, but the international break came at a cost for Madrid with Benzema, scorer of six goals in La Liga, sustaining a hamstring injury in France’s 4-0 rout of Armenia, while Luka Modric picked up a thigh strain.

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Benitez will also be without right-back Dani Carvajal, who was forced out of Spain’s final two qualifiers with an ankle problem, while there are doubts over the fitness of centre-back pairing Sergio Ramos and Pepe as well.

With Benzema sidelined, Real will be counting on Cristiano Ronaldo to rediscover the form that saw him plunder an incredible 48 league goals last season.

The Portuguese star was awarded the European Golden Shoe for a record fourth time on Tuesday as the top scorer in the continent’s domestic leagues, but he has scored in just one of seven matches this campaign; albeit a stunning five-goal haul at Espanyol.

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“I still feel good and young. I’m 30 years old and I want to play five or six more years, and during this time I want to do well and try to maintain my level from recent seasons,” Ronaldo told Spanish daily Marca upon receiving his award. “Real Madrid should always win trophies and this year is no exception. I’m always gunning for more.”

Messi absence continues to haunt Barca

Barcelona are also not without their injury troubles and Lionel Messi’s absence has been keenly felt since the Argentine went down with knee ligament damage at the end of September.

With Messi out until mid-November, Luis Suarez and Neymar have the arduous task of trying to help Barca overcome the loss of the four-time Ballon d’Or winner but it hasn’t been plain sailing for the Catalans, who are aiming to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat at Sevilla when they take on Rayo Vallecano at home.

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“Nobody can replace Leo, and nobody should think they have to take on his role,” said Suarez. “We feel the absence of the best player in the world, but we all have to chip in to help the team just like we’ve been doing these past few matches.” 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 17^th, 2015.

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