Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has insisted that Karim Benzema will be available for next week's Champions League last-16 second leg with Liverpool at Bernabeu.
The 35-year-old has picked up a number of injuries during the 2022-23 campaign, which have restricted him to 27 appearances in all competitions this term.
Benzema has already been ruled out of Real Madrid's La Liga clash with Espanyol on Saturday afternoon due to a knock that he picked up training earlier this week.
However, speaking during his pre-match press conference on Friday, Ancelotti said that the Frenchman would be fit for the contest with Jurgen Klopp's side on Wednesday night.
"He's had a knock on his ankle, it's swollen, he won't be able to play tomorrow and he trained individually today. He will be available for Wednesday's game [vs Liverpool]," said the Italian.
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"It's inevitable that it will affect us, he is very important to us. Last season he scored a lot of goals. He has not reached that level and it has affected us.
"In the second half of the season, he has been important and he is going to be more important. We are confident that he will help us."
Benzema has scored 18 goals and registered five assists in his 27 appearances at club level this season, but there remains uncertainty surrounding his future at the club.
The striker's contract at Bernabeu is due to expire at the end of the season, and Ancelotti was asked about the situation during his press conference to preview the Espanyol clash.
"I'm clear about what will happen to Benzema next year, but I'm not a magician," he said.
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Real Madrid are in a strong position to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League, having recorded a 5-2 victory over Liverpool in the first leg of their last-16 contest at Anfield.
However, Los Blancos have not triumphed since that match, drawing with Atletico Madrid and Real Betis in La Liga, in addition to suffering a 1-0 loss to Barcelona in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final.
"It's an important moment because we want to arrive at Camp Nou with a good feeling, winning tomorrow and progressing to the Champions League quarter-finals," added Ancelotti on the clash with Espanyol.
"It is a team that is fighting for something, they have a spectacular motivation, I expect a solid match, with few spaces, they have Joselu who is very dangerous in the aerial game."
Real Madrid would move to within six points of La Liga leaders Barcelona in the table if they overcome Espanyol, although the gap would be back to nine if Xavi's team beat Athletic Bilbao on Sunday night.
Matt Law
