Benzema suffers hamstring strain, doubt for City return

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema is a major doubt for the Spanish giants Champions League semi-final, second leg against Manchester City on Wednesday after Madrid confirmed he is suffering from a hamstring strain.

“Following tests carried out today on Karim Benzema in the Sanitas La Moraleja University Hospital, he has been diagnosed with a strained right hamstring,” the club said in a statement on Thursday.

“His recovery will continue to be assessed.”

Benzema came off at half-time of Tuesday’s 0-0 draw in the first leg against City having also been forced off before the break in Saturday’s 3-2 win at Rayo Vallecano.

Real refused to confirm how long the Frenchman will be sidelined, but he looks certain to miss Saturday’s trip to Real Sociedad in La Liga in the hope that he can be fit for City’s visit to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Madrid’s attack could be thoroughly depleted as they aim to make a 14th European Cup final should three-time World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo also not recover from a thigh strain for the second leg.

Ronaldo has missed Real’s last two games and Spanish radio station COPE reported on Wednesday he will undergo stem cell treatment in a bid to be fit to face City.

Between them Ronaldo and Benzema have scored 74 goals in all competitions for Madrid this season.