Madrid's Benzema ruled out for Espanyol clash

Karim Benzema will not play against Espanyol. Real Madrid's schedule looks set to be tough and the captain has decided to miss the game against the 'Pericos' to focus on the Champions League and 'El Clasico' against Barcelona.

According to 'Marca' on Thursday, the French striker prefers to recover his ankle well ahead of the second leg of the round of 16 in the continental competition against Liverpool and 'El Clasico' against the 'Cules' on 19th March at the Camp Nou.

Karim Benzema returned to specific work on Thursday at the Valdebebas training complex. This possible absence is in addition to the doubt surrounding the other striker in the first team squad, the Spanish-Dominican Mariano Diaz, who worked out in the gym due to a niggle.

Without them, Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti would have two options to fill the '9' position, Brazilian Rodrygo Goes or Uruguayan Alvaro Rodriguez.

Both Frenchman Ferland Mendy and Austrian David Alaba are confirmed absentees for the match against Espanyol. However, Mendy took another step in his recovery from the muscle tear in his left thigh that he suffered on 26th January and trained with the group. Alaba, meanwhile, worked on his own on the pitch.