Despite a number of reports claiming otherwise, Karim Benzema will join Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale up front to lead Los Blancos' attack against Atlético Madrid in Saturday's derby.
Speaking in the pre-match press conference held on Friday, Zinedine Zidane confirmed his compatriot will be included in the 20-man squad for Saturday's clash, but he refused to say if Benzema will start the game or will be used as a substitute.
"Karim's in. He's working with the rest of the team and he's doing OK. I'm happy for him, and we'll only have to decide whether he starts tomorrow or not. If he's in the squad, he can play from the beginning without any problems," Zidane stated.
The French striker has scored four goals in eight La Liga matches.
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Added to Benzema's news, Zidane confirmed that captain Sergio Ramos will play against Los Colchoneros. The French boss admitted Ramos' influence in the team's tactics, as he gives Los Blancos a competitive edge over most opponents.
"He's our captain, and we're glad to have him back because he is a key member of our squad. He's quite a good player and an excellent human being. He'll do a great job tomorrow," Zidane added.
Toni Kroos, Alvaro Morata, Pepe and Casemiro are the team's confirmed absences for tomorrow, according to the 20-man list revealed by the team.
#RMLiga
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) November 18, 2016
This is our 20-man squad for Saturday's #RMDerbi!#HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/NiJCmBF7a6
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