Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is reportedly set to leave Karim Benzema out of El Clasico against Barcelona this weekend amid fitness concerns. According to Marca, the Los Blancos forward will not be risked for the biggest game in Spanish football ahead of the Champions League quarter-final tie with Chelsea next month.
The Blues are set to lock horns with Real for the second time in as many seasons on April 6 at Stamford Bridge in the first-leg. Ancelotti is 'not going to take any risks' with Benzema, with Madrid's 'priority' for the France striker to be fully fit for the European clash in a few weeks' time.
The 34-year-old striker scored twice and set up one goal on Monday as Real Madrid beat Mallorca 3-0, but he hurt his ankle in the La Liga victory. Now, it seems to be a race for Benzema to be fit enough for the trip to Chelsea.
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The Frenchman has bagged 32 goals in all competitions for Los Blancos this season - including a hat-trick in the last round of the Champions League as Real Madrid produced a stunning comeback to progress against Paris Saint-Germain. Chelsea know all about the French forward, who scored Madrid's only goal in the 1-1 draw the two sides played out last season in the semi-final first-leg.
Chelsea know that Real stand in the way of a place in the last four of the competition, but will be boosted by beating the Spaniard's 3-1 on aggregate last season. However, Thomas Tuchel is taking nothing for granted.
Speaking his his pre-match press conference on Friday, Tuchel said: "[It's a] tough one. The challenge cannot be much higher than playing the second-leg in the Bernabeu with spectators.
"It is a big challenge and also there is a big excitement around this match and fixture. We know what is coming and it will be a tough challenge."
The winner of Chelsea and Real Madrid will face whoever comes out on top out of Atletico Madrid and Manchester City. Meanwhile, on the other side of the draw, it's Liverpool versus Benfica and Bayern Munich against Villarreal.
