Tuesday 21 April 2015 13:37, UK
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.
"After the tests carried out on Karim Benzema by the Real Madrid medical team, they have diagnosed a sprain in the medial collateral ligament in his right knee," the club said in a statement.
Benzema suffered the injury during last week's goalless draw in the first leg between the sides and subsequently sat out Saturday's 3-1 win over Malaga.
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.
Watch Real Madrid take on neighbours Atletico for a place in the Champions League semi-finals, live on Sky Sports 1 at 7pm, on Wednesday 22 April.
