WARSAW, (Reuters) – Real Madrid will focus on sealing a place in the Champions League knockout stage with a win against Shakhtar Donetsk in Warsaw on Tuesday and striker Karim Benzema will be back in the team to help, coach Carlo Ancelotti said
Real Madrid are top of Group F on a maximum nine points from three games and a win against second-placed Shakhtar — on five points — will take them into the knockout phase.
“Qualifying from the group stage is the first goal of the season because it comes very early, very fast and the sooner we do it, the better,” Ancelotti told a news conference on Monday. “Clearly, mentally, this can give you more energy for the (Spanish league). But we also have to keep in mind that Real Madrid in the Champions League can’t think about not playing a serious match.”
The Italian coach confirmed there would be changes to his team ahead of ‘El Clasico’ against rivals Barcelona on Sunday.
While Ancelotti said he may rest forward Vinicius Jr., who scored in their 2-1 win over Shakhtar in Madrid and has played a lot recently, Benzema will return after being given a rest in the 1-0 win at Getafe on Saturday in LaLiga. “Karim is fine. It’s quite clear that tomorrow he will start the game. He’s going to play because he’s rested — like (Toni) Kroos, (Ferland) Mendy, they’re fresh to play,” Ancelotti said.
Frenchman Benzema, who suffered two thigh injuries early in September, played the full 90 minutes against Osasuna and Shakhtar but had muscle fatigue so did not play at Getafe.
