Benzema doubtful, Griezmann reduced to sub for Madrid derby

BARCELONA, Spain: Barring a quick recovery for Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema or a change of strategy by Atlético Madrid, Sunday’s Spanish capital derby will be played mostly without the rivals’ leading stars. Benzema is expected to miss the match at Atlético after being sidelined last week with a right leg injury he picked up in the 3-0 win at Celtic in the Champions League. But the hosts could likewise be without goalkeeper Jan Oblak, who is also injured, while once again it seems likely that forward Antoine Griezmann will be limited to playing the final half hour because of a dispute between Atlético and Barcelona regarding his loan deal.

Madrid arrive to the derby on a roll, picking up from where they finished last season when they won both the European Cup and the Spanish league. Madrid have started the season with eight wins in as many games across all competitions and leads the league. Atlético have had a lackluster start and enter the game five points behind in seventh place in the Spanish league.

Atlético coach Diego Simeone’s biggest problem, oddly enough, has been created by his own club. Atlético have apparently asked Simeone to limit the minutes Griezmann plays in an attempt to avoid having to pay Barcelona 40 million euros ($40 million) stipulated in his loan contract if he played more than half the available minutes. Barcelona say that Atlético should already pay the sum after the France forward played more than half the games last season, mostly as a starter for Simeone.