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Real has full squad fit for ‘El Clasico’
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REAL Madrid coach Rafael Benitez has welcomed having his full squad available for just the second time this season for today’s huge game against Barcelona.
Benitez confirmed all of Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos and Keylor Navas have recovered from injuries with all three likely to start.
Benzema hasn’t played for six weeks due to a hamstring injury, but has also subsequently been plagued by off-field issues.
The striker was charged with complicity to blackmail and conspiring to commit a criminal act in his native France in a case involving a sex tape featuring international teammate Mathieu Valbuena.
“If Benzema is in the squad it is for a reason. Tomorrow we will evaluate how he is and decide what is best for him and the team,” said Benitez.
“It is the second time we have had everyone available. I have a winning team that has the capacity to still get better.
“That everyone is fit gives us greater competition. It is important everyone is in the squad and available to play.”
Barcelona comes into the game with a three-point lead at the top of the table thanks to Real’s first defeat of the season at Sevilla last time out.
However, despite Barcelona also welcoming back four-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi from a two-month injury layoff, Benitez insisted home advantage makes Real the favorite. “We are playing in our stadium with our fans, so I think Real is the favorite.”
The match will be played under unprecedented security measures after a string of deadly attacks in Paris a week ago that killed 129 people.
A total of 1,200 police officers will be deployed around the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, six times the usual number for a game classified as presenting a high security risk.
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