Drat! Benzema to miss Lyon trip

LOUSY. That is what I would call this day. Unequivocally lousy. Even if I ignore the fact that both M.Vijay and Badrinath failed to utilise the chance that they had to impress today, it was so bloody lousy. The only good part was the work out. Phew! Am I tired or not? Not. So for today’s post.

Karim Benzema will almost certainly miss out on a return to Lyon, after medical tests revealed he will be sidelined for at least a week. The France international has definitely been ruled out of this weekend’s La Liga action and is unlikely to recover in time for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash next Tuesday.

Remember what I was talking about yesterday? The fact that Granero might be pushed to the bench if Ronaldo and Higuain returned to full fitness? The answer to that question is that it isn’t Granero who will be dropped, rather it is Karim Benzema who is being dropped.  The Frenchman had earlier revealed his concern that the return of Cristiano and Higuain could spoil a return to his old stomping ground next week. Speaking to L’Equipe ahead of next week’s round of 16 clash against his former club Lyon, he said:

It’s a shame. I always say that a player who does not want to play should be devoted, as a professional I always am and I’m ready to play against Lyon.

But he also said that he is perfectly fit and that his performances against Deportivo and Espanyol has really helped him a lot.

I ran very well in those games and that benefits me in my game and in my movement.

But it was then that the injury was identified. The official site released the medical report that read:

Following a physical and MRI at Sanitas La Moraleja Hospital on Tuesday, Karim Benzema was diagnosed with an inflammed left thigh muscle. He is expected to miss approximately seven days, but his return depends on the progress made over that time span.

It is a very smart way to drop a star from your team in football. In cricket they call it rest. In football they just fake an injury. I am just being extremely frank here. I am not too sure about this injury of his though I am not a medical student. This is just a gut feeling.

Screw my gut. Benzema rules.

It is like school. When two tenth grade kids fight each other because one was accused by the other for cheating. In this case, the two kids are the Madrid based papers and the Catalan based papers who are fighting each other as Barcelona have recently accused Real Madrid of generating conspiracy theories suggesting that the Cules are being favored by referees. Emilio Butragueno, who wants to put an end to this isuue, while speaking to Marca, has said:

I believe that referees should be left alone. They are fundamental to the game, nothing can happen without them. They make instant decisions, and it is very difficult. We must understand. They do not have bad intentions. We must respect them.

But on the other hand, two men who really matter for the two clubs, Pep Guardiola and Raul continued their lasting friendship. Last week, the two dined together in the Catalunyan capital along with the Barca boss’ girlfriend and the Madrid skipper’s wife. As reported by AS, Guardiola took Raul to a trendy Barcelona restaurant, one in which the Barca coach is reported to have taken a number of his own players.

Marcelo, who last Friday signed a contract extension through 2015, will play his 100th match for Real Madrid on Saturday if he takes the pitch against Xerez. But sadly and unlike his co-compatriot Kaka, the young Brazilian has not been picked by Dunga for the final warm up friendly which basically indicates Brazil’s composition for the World Cup. If its any consolation the in-form Ronaldinho too has been ignored.

Higuain’s contract too is under study. Real want to extend his contract until 2016. I am eagerly anticipating that moment. He deserves it.

The representative of Fernando Gago, Marcelo Lombilla, has insisted the 23-year-old is committed to the Spanish giants but would welcome interest from Inter Milan. He told FcInter1908.it that:

It’s very pleasing, but it’s too early. Gago stayed put at Real in January for a bunch of reasons I am not going to name. Have other teams made contact with me? I won’t answer that out of respect for Real, because the lad plays there and is only focused on doing well there for the time being. But it is always important for a player’s morale to have suitors in big leagues. There are clubs both in Italy and England who could suit our needs…

The former Boca Juniors man came close to joining Manchester City during the January transfer window and the Eastlands outfit are expected to launch a fresh bid in the summer. But press reports in Italy are suggesting that Gago is top of Jose Mourinho’s wish-list. Lmao!

And finally news from The Valdabebas. Ezequiel Garay rejoined the squad, while Metzelder and Benzema stayed indoors with Pepe. Castilla’s Mateos, Ruben Ramos and goalkeeper Felipe Ramos trained with the first team.

Para Siempre Blanco!

Hala Madrid!!