After being out for more than three weeks, Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema was spotted doing regular drills with the handful of internationals who returned from their national team commitments early.
According to the Spanish newspaper Diario AS, it was the first time Benzema’stepped on the grass and touched a ball’ as part of his regular training routine.
After suffering injuries before the international break, Benzema and Lucas Vazquez were training inside the facility. And, for the first time in three weeks, the star forward joined forces with the team to try to get match fitness.
Furthermore, while Benzema is now training normally, manager Carlo Ancelotti is expected to be cautious because the French forward may take his time before making his Real Madrid debut.
As a result, as the capital city team prepares for a home match against Osasuna, Benzema is expected to come off the bench rather than start. This is primarily because he hasn’t played a competitive game in 25 days.
The goal is to get him back into a competitive rhythm so that he can start the next game, a UEFA Champions League home tie against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Benzema was the only outfield player, and one of only two Madrid players, along with Thibaut Courtois, to play every minute of action prior to his injury against Celtic.
However, Ancelotti was forced to take him off against Celtic due to knee discomfort. As a result, he missed his team’s next three games, including a 4-1 victory over Mallorca, a 2-0 victory over RB Leipzig, and a 2-1 derby victory over Atletico Madrid.
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