Malaga vs Real Madrid. Spanish La Liga.
La RosaledaAttendance28,290.
Sunday 21 February 2016 14:57, UK
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane will be without striker Karim Benzema for the La Liga clash at Malaga on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.
Benzema played 90 minutes in Los Blancos' 2-0 victory over Roma in the Champions League last week but has been omitted from their 19-man squad to travel to Malaga.
It means Zidane could start 22-year-old Jese, who scored Real's second goal in the Italian capital on Wednesday, in place of Benzema, who has plundered 19 La Liga goals in as many matches.
Real's manager also said he is willing to risk playing Sergio Ramos and Dani Carvajal, even though the pair are a booking away from missing next week's Madrid derby.
Third-placed Real travel to Malaga on Sunday afternoon looking to leapfrog city rivals Atletico Madrid, who they face next week at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Defenders Ramos and Carvajal are one caution away from being banned from the derby but Zidane is not afraid to play them.
"If one of them gets a card, they will be unable to play in the derby, but I am not thinking about that, just about the game," the former Madrid midfielder said. "The team that I deem suitable to win will be the one that plays."
Los Blancos go into the match on the back of a 2-0 victory over Roma in the Champions League and Zidane believes their south coast opposition pose as much threat as the Italians.
"It is going to be a difficult game against a good side. I am sure it will be tough, like in Rome, but that is what we have each weekend. The important thing is to be ready from the outset.
"The difficult thing is that we are going to have difficult games away and at home, but more difficult away ones due to the fans. I hope that we show determination, are attentive, and intense with everything that we do. All the games are going to be difficult."
Madrid are still without Portuguese defender Pepe, who continues his recovery from injury, and hand a starting place to 26-year-old Nacho if Zidane opts to shuffle his pack ahead of the Atletico clash.
Meanwhile, Malaga manager Javi Garcia must pick his side up from their 1-0 loss at Villarreal last week. The Blue and Whites are 11th in La Liga.
"Against Real Madrid, you can't exclusively defend as you will possibly lose the match," Garcia said.
"We need to find the right balance in order to be aggressive on the attack. It's also important that the goalkeepers of teams who come up against Real Madrid are successful as it'll be demanding."
