Benzema to miss Real Madrid trip to Malaga on J25 in La Liga

Karim Benzema will miss out on Real Madrid's tough away fixture as they aim to avoid a fatal blow to their La Liga title hopes away at Malaga on Sunday. Malaga held los blancos to a 0-0 draw in the Bernabeu at the beginning of the season.

Benzema wasn't included in Zinedine Zidane's 19-man squad for the trip to Andalusia, with AS learning that the 28-year-old is suffering with a hip injury.

Real lie 10 points adrift of La Liga leaders Barcelona in third after the European champions won 2-1 at Las Palmas on Saturday.

Gareth Bale is again absent due to a calf injury, whilst Nacho is set to partner Sergio Ramos in central defence as Pepe misses out through injury and Raphael Varane is suspended.