Reigning Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema has been left out of the Real Madrid squad that is set to take on Al Ahly in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-final.
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On Wednesday evening, Los Blancos will face the record African champions but will be without their French captain for the encounter after his name was omitted from the squad.
Benzema sustained a leg injury during their 2-0 victory over Valencia at the Santiago Bernabeu last week. The 36-year-old missed his side's league defeat to Mallorca this past weekend and now looks set to be unavailable for the Club World Cup last four clash.
Los Merengues' talisman is joined by Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy and Lucas Vasquez on the list of absentees. Benzema, Courtois and Militao could be available for the final should Real progress.
The Spanish outfit will be looking to extend their record of most Club World Cup wins to five at this edition of the tournament but will be coming up against an Al Ahly side which is undefeated this season. Of the 22 matches that Marcel Koller has managed at the Red Devils this season, he has won 18, two of which came against Auckland City and Seattle Sounders earlier in the competition.
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Carlo Ancelotti has, however, vowed that his side will fight to win every competition that they are still a part of.
"We will not throw any tournaments away, we are very close... In the [Spanish] cup semi-finals, last 16 in Europe, Club World Cup semis," the Italian tactician said, as per Goal.
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