Karim Benzema Working to be Fit for Upcoming Match Against Real Sociedad

Real Madrid’s French striker, Karim Benzema, continued his process of recuperation by training alone on the pitch at Valdebebas this morning. The rest of the team, with the exception of the injured Alvaro Odriozola and Sergio Ramos, as well as Sergio Reguilon who worked in the gym, trained normally preparing for the next match against Real Sociedad this Sunday.

Benzema, who has been carrying a hamstring injury in his left thigh, trained with a ball on the pitch. At 31 years of age, Karim Benzema has amassed 4,135 minutes of gameplay this season, blowing past the 3,500 minute threshold where players usually start to breakdown at the end of the season. In his stead, Mariano Diaz has finally been given an opportunity to start and play. The former Canterano scored two goals in the last match against Villarreal and will be looking to continue his hot-streak. Mariano has recently come out and declared his desire to stay at Real Madrid. In order to do so, he will need to make a lasting impression in the final few games of the season as Karim Benzema focuses on regaining fitness.

The goal scoring numbers between the two are stark. The Frenchman has produced a return of 30 goals and 7 assists this season. Again, this came about in a year where has had to shoulder a great deal of the team’s attacking responsibility while Mariano, who has been starved of opportunities — both due to technical decisions and injuries — has 4 goals to his name. With rumors heating up on the potential arrival of Serbian striker, Luka Jovic, the Dominican-Spanish striker may find himself a casualty in the upcoming squad reconstruction this summer.