Karim Benzema out with hamstring injury

MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 20: Karim Benzema of Real Madrid competes for the ball with Jonathan dos Santos of Villarreal during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and Villarreal CF at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 20, 2016 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Victor Carretero/Real Madrid via Getty Images) /

Real Madrid confirmed on Thursday that Karim Benzema has injured his hamstring, and will likely be forced to sit out Saturday’s La Liga match against Real Sociedad.

Karim Benzema was forced to come off early in Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League semi-final match against Manchester City with what was thought to be a hip problem, but the club confirmed on Thursday that he was diagnosed with a muscle injury in his left hamstring, via ESPN.

As a result of the injury, Benzema will likely be left out of La Liga’s match against Real Sociedad on Saturday. The timing couldn’t be worse for Los Blancos, as Cristiano Ronaldo will also probably be out of Saturday’s match as well. The Portuguese star had to sit out of the midweek Champions League clash because of a hamstring injury, but is hoping to be fit for the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Real Madrid could certainly use Benzema in the lineup against Real Sociedad, as they trail Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in the La Liga table by just one point with three matches remaining.

The Frenchman has scored 23 goals and six assists in 25 league games thus far, and has also found the back of the net four times in the Champions League. Benzema has been a key member of Real Madrid since joining the club from Lyon in 2009, and would represent a significant loss if he is unable to play in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final as well.

Real Madrid visit Real Sociedad on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. ET, before hosting Manchester City on Wednesday at 2:45 p.m. ET.

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