Karim Benzema Illness: Updates on Real Madrid Star's Status and Return

Updates from Tuesday, Oct. 21

Karim Benzema has travelled with the Real Madrid squad for Wednesday's clash with Liverpool.

Nicholas Rigg of AS reports:

Updates from Monday, Oct. 20

Carlo Ancelotti has revealed Karim Benzema's fitness will need to be assessed ahead of Real Madrid's Champions League clash with Liverpool.

Ancelotti said, per Madrid's official website:

"

We have a few days to evaluate the situation of Bale, Benzema, Varane, Ramos and all the players who had fitness issues in this game.

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Original Text

Striker Karim Benzema will miss Real Madrid's La Liga meeting with Levante on Saturday after it was revealed the France international returned from the international break with an illness.

According to The Associated Press (for Sportsnet), manager Carlo Ancelotti confirmed Benzema won't feature during the weekend, saying he "woke up with fever and won’t be available.”

Real Madrid Info provided an additional quote, as the Italian stated there were no issues when the player first returned from international duty:

Star defender Raphael Varane contracted the same illness, linking the fever with something that must have occurred inside the French squad.

On-loan striker Javier Hernandez is expected be his replacement on Saturday, per AS English's Nicholas Rigg:

Levante sit near the bottom of the standings and are yet to win a single La Liga match at home this season, per WhoScored.com. While it's never easy to replace several key contributors, Los Blancos should have no problems winning on Saturday, even without Benzema.