Karim Benzema practiced with Real Madrid on Sunday and might make a stunning comeback against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
The France international has been out since suffering a hamstring injury against Elche on January 23. He is one of Madrid’s club leaders.
He has, however, been chosen in Carlo Ancelotti’s 26-man squad for the journey to Paris on Tuesday for the first leg of the last-16 tie.
Benzema has already scored 24 goals for Madrid in 2021-22, and the goals have dried up without him.
Since Benzema’s injury, the squad has only scored one goal in three entire games, the most recent of which was a 0-0 tie against Villarreal on Sunday.
In that game, Gareth Bale was used as a central striker, and after a poor start, he emerged as the main attacking danger, firing six shots and forcing three superb stops from goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli.
Ancelotti was pleased with the news, but he stressed that Bale was only one of several choices for the role against PSG, and he hoped Benzema would be featured.
The fact that Benzema, 34, was able to train with his teammates on Sunday bodes well for his future, and Ancelotti will keep a tight eye on the former Lyon striker ahead of the game at the Parc des Princes.
Ancelotti was upbeat about Benzema’s chances on Friday, despite the fact that he didn’t play against Villarreal, indicating that Madrid is taking precautions with his conditioning.
Ancelotti said on Friday: “We have good feelings, he is having good feelings. The most important thing is the player’s health. If there is a risk, we are not going to take it. We have to evaluate but if he plays on Tuesday, it is because there is no risk.”
The potential of Benzema and France teammate Kylian Mbappe leading their respective assaults is tantalizing.
Mbappe is a known transfer target for Real Madrid, who failed with a big-money offer for the PSG attacker in August but may be able to get him on a free transfer at the conclusion of the season, meaning he and Benzema could soon be teammates and club-mates with Les Bleus.
Source: LiveScore news
