By Daily Sports on January 18, 2020
Real Madrid will be without captain Sergio Ramos and forward Gareth Bale for Saturday's La Liga match against Sevilla but are boosted by the return of top scorer Karim Benzema after he recovered from a muscle strain.
Ramos and Bale were left out of coach Zinedine Zidane's 19-man squad for the game despite completing training on Friday. Eden Hazard is still out with an ankle injury he sustained in November.
French forward Benzema, responsible for 12 of Real's 36 league goals this campaign, is expected to be back in action after missing the team's triumphant Spanish Super Cup campaign in Saudi Arabia with a muscle problem.
Ramos complained of an ankle injury after scoring the winning penalty in the shootout in Sunday's final against Atletico Madrid but has since returned to full training, only to be left out for the visit of his former club.
Bale, who missed the Super Cup due to a chest infection, was a surprise omission as he had trained with the team all week.
The match will be Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui's first game back at the Santiago Bernabeu since he was sacked by Real in October 2018.
Zidane praised Ramos for his determination to get back to full fitness.
"We all know that Ramos has a lot of character, he always wants to play and he has worked hard all week to be able to play. He's our leader, our reference point and an example for everyone else to follow," he said.
Real are second in La Liga, locked on 40 points with leaders Barca and victory over Sevilla would take them three points clear at the top for at least 24 hours, as the Catalans host Granada on Sunday in their first game under new coach Quique Setien. (Sky Sports)
•PHOTO: Benzema and Bale
Source Daily Sports
Posted January 18, 2020
You may also like...
Bakole calls out Joshua ahead Ajagba bout
Barca Told Me to Knock Madrid Out of...
Villa Opportunity Was Too Big To Turn Down...
Man Utd confirm deal for Wolves' Cunha
Rio 2016 - Bolt wins ninth Olympic gold...
ATP Toronto: Rafael Nadal upends Stefanos Tsitsipas to...

'One of the best in Africa' - DR Congo coach admits Leopards are not on Super
We can’t celebrate yet – Chelle
Eagles coach deserves praise – Adepoju
Osimhen leads Nigeria’s push for World Cup lifeline
Islamic Games: Nigeria celebrates boxing, weightlifting medals
African U-20 champ Oyibu joins Baylor University
Nigeria 4-1 Gabon: Eagles soar into World Cup playoffs final
VIDEO: I handle pressure with calm, focus, says Osimhen
‘Osimhen Super Lig’s most valuable player’
Ekong dismisses Eagles’ special bonus demand rumours
ICYMI: 2026 W’Cup: Nigeria, Gabon to clash in crucial playoff
Falconets end WAFU B tournament unbeaten
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,335 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,561 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,497 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,128 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,119 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,044 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (51,882 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,467 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,584 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,166 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,548 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,034 views)