Real Madrid without Karim Benzema for crunch Champions League clash

Real Madrid will be without striker Karim Benzema for Wednesday's Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid.

The France international joins Luka Modric and Gareth Bale on the sidelines for Los Blancos' decisive second leg clash at the Santiago Bernabeu with a knee problem.
As well as the injury absences, attacking full-back Marcelo is suspended for the decider with the tie standing at 0-0 from the first game.

Modric also suffered a knee ligament sprain against Malaga, but Benzema's injury is not expected to be as serious as the Croatian's, who will miss the rest of the season unless Madrid make it to the Champions League final on June 6.

"I won't hide the faith I have in my team-mates; that they can get to the Champions League final, which is on the 6th June,” Modric told Croatian newspaper Sportske Novosti.

"There's no other choice. I'm not giving up on this season yet. I had some fantastic times from August to November. Then there was a break, then another long injury and now another. There's no reason not to believe I can have a good end to the season.

"I'm going to try as hard as I can to turn this tough situation around."
Bale pulled up after less than five minutes against Malaga with a calf injury that is expected to keep him out for up to three weeks.