Real Madrid Could miss five games

Zinedine Zidane has been forced into a rethink of his attacking plans after Karim Benzema was hit by a hip injury, ruling him out for two to three weeks.

Although Los Blancos have only just returned to training following the winter break, the games are set to pile up in January with Benzema at least out for the Copa del Rey double-header with Numancia, a LaLiga clash with Celta Vigo and maybe even the games with Villarreal and Deportivo La Coruna.

Picking up the problem early on in the Clasico defeat on December 23, the striker missed Real's public workout on Saturday and instead underwent an MRI scan as he began his recovery programme.

Some corners had mooted the idea that Benzema dodged training in front of the Madrid fanbase in order to avoid their jeers in what would be a PR disaster for the club, however that was not the case.