Karim Benzema will reportedly be kept wrapped in cotton wool this weekend as Real Madrid prepare for their Champions League showdown with Liverpool on Tuesday.
The 2022 Ballon d'Or winner was on the mark twice for Los Blancos last weekend as Carlo Antelotti's side recorded a thumping 4-0 win against Elche in La Liga. But French international Benzema, who missed last year's World Cup through injury, is reported to have finished the game in 'slight discomfort'.
As a result, Madrid are now expected to rest the 35-year-old for their weekend trip to Osasuna, preferring to keep him fresh for the Round of 16 first leg clash at Anfield, in a re-run of last May's Paris final.
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Madrid-based journalist Alberto Pereiro tweeted: "Karim Benzema will not be at the weekend vs Osasuna in Pamplona. Yesterday (he) finished limping, there is no injury but they don't want trouble for Tuesday at Anfield."
Benzema has had to contend with multiple injury problems across the current campaign that have resulted in the forward missing as many as 11 matches for Real. He has however, scored 14 goals and provided four assists across 22 matches in all competitions this season.
Another more serious injury concern for the Madristas' trip to Anfield is midfielder Toni Kroos. The German is recovering from a bout of gastroenteritis and will also play no part in Real's trip to Osasuna. His chances of facing Liverpool remain doubtful.
Real Madrid will arrive at Anfield as European Champions, having beaten the Reds 1-0 in last year's final. The two sides have faced each other three times in the European Cup final overall with Liverpool triumphing 1-0 in 1981 and the Spaniards coming out on top in 2018 - when Benzema scored - and 2022.
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