Barcelona could have Lionel Messi back for the weekend’s Clasico but there is fresh doubt over Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema.
AS reports Messi’s return to training following a knee injury is going well and he was involved in a session on Tuesday that was conducted without issue.
Messi hasn’t played since he was injured at the end of September in Barca’s win over Las Palmas.
Benzema, meanwhile, has been carrying a hamstring problem picked up on international duty in early October and on Tuesday afternoon it was reported he may have suffered a relapse.
Marca reports some discomfort for the France international but that is attributed to the time he has spent out of action, and not a major cause for concern, but conflicting reports have surfaced.
Cadena SER goes so far as to say Benzema has only a 40% chance of playing in the match and predicts he won’t be involved.
The report adds good news for Madrid, however, as Sergio Ramos looks set to play without the need for a pain-killing injection to mask his shoulder pain.
