Karim Benzema Injury: Updates on Real Madrid Star's Knee and Return

Karim Benzema's knee injury, picked up on April 21 against Atletico Madrid, kept him out of Real Madrid's Champions League semi-final first-leg clash with Juventus and the team's May 9 draw with Valencia.

However, he is fit for Wednesday's second-leg tie with Juve and will start the match, which Madrid enter 2-1 down.

Continue for updates.

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Benzema Starts vs. Juventus

Wednesday, May 13

Real Madrid's official Twitter feed reported that Benzema would start against Juventus. 

Ancelotti had always remained hopeful he would reappear against Juve, via ESPN's Dermot Corrigan: "Benzema we're positive too, had just a small issue, but should be able to play Wed."

On April 24, Frederic Hermel of AS reported that Benzema travelled to see a French knee specialist to speed up his recovery:

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The French forward travelled to Lyon, the city of his birth, for treatment with one of the world’s finest knee specialists, the doctor Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet. Madrid’s medical staff, who will monitor the treatment, agree with the Frenchman carrying out this trip. Unsurprisingly, the French knee specialist and Real Madrid’s club doctor Jesús Olmo know each other very well from FIFA’s medical congresses. They spoke last weekend and decided, together, the protocol for Benzema’s rehabilitation. Olmo will travel to the French city today (Friday) to monitor the player’s development.

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Benzema has netted 21 goals and provided 10 assists across 36 appearances in La Liga and the Champions League this season, per WhoScored.com.

As part of the so-called BBC partnership, he spearheads the attack flanked by world-class wingers Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

With those two cutting inside and using their athleticism to find space, Benzema's unique ability to locate passing lanes and play with his back toward goal makes him a perfect fit for Real's system.