Real short on strikers

Real Madrid are short on strikers for the weekend trip to Levante just as Jose Mourinho explains a front-line mix-up last night.

Karim Benzema was not included in the final squad for yesterday’s home draw with Borussia Dortmund after pulling up in Monday’s late training session with a suspected hamstring injury.

Alongside Gonzalo Higuain, who pulled up during the game with a similar muscular complaint to his thigh and had to be withdrawn at half-time, Mourinho is without both his senior strikers for the weekend trip out to Valencia.

For the Portuguese, the situation could have been avoided.

“It’s my fault because [Alvaro] Morata played 90 minutes with the Castilla. Benzema was one I did not expect to lose because I was going to start him and Higuain would only have been on the bench,” Mourinho lamented at the full-time whistle.

“Gonzalo at 30 minutes was not able to continue either. I had been asked if Morata could play against Huesca as Jese was suspended and I told him to play. This was my mistake. Benzema and Higuain will not be available for Sunday.”

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