Real Madrid Must Not Risk Karim Benzema Ahead of Champions League Semi-Final

Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Karim Benzema will return to the Real Madrid squad for Saturday’s La Liga match at home to Valencia.

The French striker has missed the last six matches due to a sprained ankle he picked up in the 0-0 draw with Atletico Madrid in mid-April. But he will again be available for selection this weekend.

“Benzema has been called up for tomorrow’s game,” Ancelotti said in his pre-match press conference on Friday, as per Rhiannon Jones of Real Madrid TV. “He’s not yet 100 percent. Tomorrow we’ll decide if he starts.”

The return of Benzema is welcome news for Madrid, with the crucial second leg of their Champions League semi-final encounter with Juventus coming up on Wednesday.

And with that fixture in mind, it makes little sense for Ancelotti to risk Benzema from the start on Saturday if he is not yet fully fit.

Madrid do of course need to take all three points in order to keep up the pressure on leaders Barcelona, who host Real Sociedad earlier in the day. Anything less and they can probably kiss goodbye to the league title.

But even with Benzema in the side, they were unable to create much of note in their away defeat to Valencia in January.

Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images

Nuno’s side employed a three-man defence, with their wide centre-backs aggressively man-marking Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, while Benzema was sandwiched between Nicolas Otamendi and the defensive midfielder Enzo Perez. They did an excellent job of stifling the BBC and in doing so bringing to an end Madrid’s incredible 22-match winning streak.

Valencia are likely to defend in a similarly strong and competitive manner on Saturday, making it far-from-the-ideal fixture in which to ease an injured player back to match fitness. Madrid will need to be at their most alert to get a result. They will not be able to carry any passengers.

In the circumstances it makes sense to bring Javier Hernandez back into the starting XI. The Mexico international was only used as a substitute in the midweek, first-leg defeat to Juventus but had made a strong impact in his previous appearances during Benzema’s absence.

Per WhoScored.com, Hernandez had scored three goals and provided three assists in five matches prior to Tuesday’s 2-1 loss in Turin. He scored the late, late winner in the Champions League quarter-final victory over Atletico and twice more in the 4-2 league win over Celta Vigo.

His three assists came against Malaga, Almeria and Sevilla.

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The 26-year-old has formed a good understanding with both Ronaldo and James Rodriguez. The trio were involved (scoring or assisting) in 12 of Madrid’s 14 goals over those five matches, with two of them directly assisting one another on six occasions.

And Hernandez’s sharp and intelligent movement could be just the ticket to unlock La Liga’s third-best defence on Saturday.

Benzema should undoubtedly get a runout at the Bernabeu. It is important for him to get a few minutes under his belt in a competitive match in order to reach Wednesday’s encounter in top condition.

Madrid come into the second leg of that tie knowing that a 1-0 victory would be sufficient to progress to the final on the away goals rule but aware, also, that Juventus will pose a threat in attack and that more than one goal may eventually be required.

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Training today | Karim Benzema. pic.twitter.com/TiCSKGK8en

— SocialRMadrid (@SocialRMadrid) May 8, 2015"

Per WhoScored, Benzema has contributed 21 goals and 10 assists across league and Champions League play so far this season. But it is his off-ball movement, into the channels and off the front, that is almost as vital to Madrid’s play. He helps create space for Bale and Ronaldo to cut inside into dangerous central areas.

“We have to appreciate the way he helps the team’s play,” Ancelotti said in the wake of the 4-1 home win over Real Sociedad in January. “He isn’t just a striker who plays in the box, he is very good in every area and has a lot of quality.”

The 27-year-old has become a key figure for Madrid. While they would ideally like to have him fit and available for both matches, a decision has to be made. It makes little sense to start a 90 percent-fit Benzema on Saturday and potentially aggravate his injury, thus preventing him from playing on Wednesday.

Benzema should be used from the bench against Valencia and then restored to the starting XI against Juventus. Any other course of action would represent an unnecessary risk for Real Madrid.

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