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Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid, Champions League final: Benzema getting closer to start

Pepe, on the other hand, will almost certainly miss the Final

Adam Pretty

Can Real Madrid sign Atlético's doctors? Controversy aside about their treatments, both Diego Costa and Arda Turan trained with the squad this Thursday. Costa had the exact same injury Pepe had -Costa's a hamstring problem while Pepe's injury is in the calf- and it's taken him less than one week to recover from it. Pepe will have to miss the Final. That's a big difference.

Karim Benzema looks closer to start now even though he's been out of the training sessions too. But the French just had a niggle and should be able to start the match, just like Arda Turan and Cristiano Ronaldo. If Benzema is not available, Isco will take his spot, allowing Ancelotti to play 4-4-2 with Bale and Ronaldo upfront or 4-3-3 with Isco as a false 9.

That way, Ancelotti will need to start Raphäel Varane against Costa and company. Varane has struggled against strong forwards in the past -Drogba, Lewandowski- and Costa is no different. Ancelotti will surely want to have Pepe on the field this Saturday, but it seems that it's almost impossible.

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