Karim Benzema injury news: Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that he substituted Karim Benzema against Chelsea due to injury
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that he was forced to substitute Karim Benzema during the team’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final second-leg match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday. The French striker had to be withdrawn from the game due to an injury he had picked up during the match.
Despite losing Benzema, Real Madrid managed to secure a 2-0 victory over Chelsea to complete a 4-0 aggregate win and advance to the Champions League semi-finals. The Spanish giants will now face either Manchester City or Bayern Munich in the last four of the competition.
The win was largely thanks to the impressive performance of Brazilian forward Rodrygo, who scored two second-half goals to put the tie beyond Chelsea’s reach. For Real Madrid, the win marks another step towards adding to their illustrious history in the Champions League, having won the competition a record 13 times in their history. With the likes of Benzema, Rodrygo, and other key players in their ranks, they will undoubtedly be a formidable opponent for whoever they face in the semi-finals.
“It was known that we had to suffer in this type of game. They have tried everything. They have created problems for us especially on the left side, then we have fixed it. It was a complete game, it’s normal to suffer. We had a very solid level in defence and it’s a well-deserved victory,” Ancelotti told Movistar+ post-match.
Perhaps the most significant injury setback for Real Madrid was the forced substitution of Karim Benzema, who was taken off late in the game with a foot problem. The French striker has been instrumental to Real Madrid’s success this season, scoring crucial goals in important matches.
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Despite the injury concerns, Real Madrid will be relieved to have secured their place in the Champions League semi-finals, where they will face the winner of the Manchester City vs Bayern Munich tie. With a 4-0 aggregate win over Chelsea, Real Madrid will be full of confidence going into the next round of the competition.
However, the injuries to key players such as Alaba, Militao, and Benzema will undoubtedly be a concern for Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, as he looks to keep his side in contention for the Champions League title. The Italian tactician will have to call on his squad depth to cope with the potential absence of these players in the upcoming matches.
Elaborating on Alaba and Benzema’s injuries, Ancelotti added: “Alaba has had a problem, his hamstring was tight and we had made the change at the end of the first half. Karim had a blow, a stomp on his foot, it started to bother him at the end and we changed him.”
