Karim Benzema wrote his name into the record books on Monday with a brace in Real Madrid's 3-0 win over Mallorca, but the striker's night was soured when he was withdrawn injured that now puts his place in Sunday's el clasico in doubt.
Benzema's absence for the game against bitter rivals Barcelona at the Bernabeu would come as a serious blow to Madrid, after the striker continued his scintillating recent run with two more goals at Son Moix to take his La Liga goals tally this season to 22.
After scoring a hat-trick to help Madrid defeat Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 in the Champions League last week, the 34-year-old's penalty against Mallorca took his career tally to 412 goals, putting him one above Thierry Henry in the all-time list of French scorers.
Benzema then made it 413 for him and three for Madrid with a superb header late on, only to limp off in obvious discomfort with what looked like an injury in his lower left leg late on.
Vinicius Junior, who opened the scoring, and Rodrygo also suffered problems in the second half.
"We will look at it in the next few days," said Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti. "They don't seem like very serious things. Rodrygo was a knock, [Ferland] Mendy has felt something in his adductor and Karim, after a jump, didn't feel good. We'll see if they can recover for Sunday."
Victory took Madrid 10 points clear of Sevilla at the top of La Liga and gives them a sizeable cushion over Barca despite the Catalan club's recent uptick in form.
Yet there will be no doubt Barcelona would love to rubberstamp their progress under Xavi with a victory at the home of their fiercest rivals while a win for Madrid would serve as further confirmation of their dominance this season.
"We have the advantage and it's good at this point in the season," said Ancelotti. "We have to think about winning on Sunday, that's all."
Real Madrid v PSG player ratings
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REAL MADRID: Thibaut Courtois - 6: Made three comfortable first-half saves but was then deceived at near post by Mbappe for opening goal of game. EPA -
Dani Carvajal - 5: Playing like a winger on right dragged powerful strike wide of target in 12th minute. Costly loss of possession led to counter-attack and Mbappe’s goal. Cynical booking for barging over same player in second half. EPA -
Eder Militao - 7: Two vital challenges on Messi and then Neymar when former Barca pair were teeing-up shots just before break. Dominant and error-free at back for Real, unlike some PSG defenders at other end. EPA -
David Alaba - 7: Former Bayern Munich defender was last man when Mbappe charged through in first half but couldn’t stop French striker scoring. Perfectly timed tackle to stop Mbappe scoring another early in second period. AFP -
Nacho - 6: Picked up yellow for tripping Hakimi late in first half and found Moroccan’s pace a problem for first hour of game until Real’s first goal when balance of game turned on its head and Nacho played his part. AFP -
Luka Modric - 8: Croatian midfielder had not been at his most influential then took charge of game on second half. Charging run to begin move for Benzema’s second and then provided pinpoint pass to striker’s feet to seal assist. Curled left-foot shot just wide in last couple of minutes. AP -
Federico Valverde - 7: Picked out Benzema with cross in first half but attacker’s header sailed gently into Donnarumma’s hands. Another midfielder who helped Real turnaround game. EPA -
Toni Kroos – 6: Recovered from hamstring injury to start in midfield and his perfect ball into middle picked out Benzema for French striker’s second missed headed opportunity. German didn’t look 100 per cent fit and came off before hour mark. AP -
Marco Asensio - 4: Couldn’t get into game and when half-chance did fall his way just after half-time, his control let him down and PSG cleared. Hooked early in second half. AFP -
Karim Benzema – 9.5: Thought he had opened scoring with curling shot but Donnarumma tipped narrowly wide of upright. Levelled scores on night after taking advantage of Donnarumma error. Then scored two goals in less than a minute to seal his second-half hat-trick. AFP -
Vinicius Junior - 8: Pace caused PSG early problems and looked like he might run riot but threat waned as first-half wore on. Back with bang after break. Heavily involved in all three of Benzema’s goals. Should have put Real 2-1 up but snatched at chance and fired over bar. AP -
SUBS: Rodrygo – (On for Asensio 57’) 7: Helped give Real some extra width and stretch the PSG defence. Reuters -
Eduardo Camavinga – (On for Kroos 57’) 7: All of Carlo Ancelotti’s substitutes paid off and French midfielder helped change game. Getty -
Lucas Vazquez – (On for Carvajal 66’) 7: Harsh booking for minor touch on Mbappe. EPA -
PSG RATINGS: Gianluigi Donnarumma - 5: Fantastic fingertip save at full stretch to turn Benzema shot round post 25 minutes in. Awful mistake to give ball away for Benzema’s opening goal and booked for protesting that he was fouled but error was own making. AP -
Achraf Hakimi - 6: Given early headache down right by Vinicius Jnr’s pace but regained control and looked threat himself when bombing forward. Played Benzema narrowly onside for striker’s hat-trick finish and picked up a booking for fouling Vinicius Junior soon after. EPA -
Marquinhos - 3: Some uncharacteristic howlers from Brazilian. Captain gifted ball to Vinicius Jnr with ludicrous backheel flick just before half-hour mark and was lucky not to be punished. Gave ball straight to Benzema for Real striker’s third goal. Getty -
Presnel Kimpembe - 6: France defender was solid at back and was rarely troubled in first half. Called on to tidy up when Ansensio threatened just after break but was booked late on as game slipped away from PSG. Getty -
Nuno Mendes - 6: Failed to time his run and was caught offside while setting up Mbappe’s disallowed first-half goal. Good going forward, not so convincing the other direction. Getty -
Leandro Paredes - 6: Seventh-minute booking left him on knife-edge for rest of game and would have ruled him out of quarter-final first leg. Headed block on Valvderde blockbusting volley at start of second half. Getty -
Danilo - 7: Chased and harried Real, doing the donkey work for more esteemed attacking teammates but couldn’t stop Real’s second-half onslaught. Getty -
Marco Verratti - 6: Helped dictate midfield along with Messi in first half but, like all his teammates, completely lost control of game in second. AFP -
Lionel Messi - 7: Linked up well with Mbappe and Neymar to set up first-half chances. Dinked one of those across goal himself but no teammate was there to finish. Influence and threat fell away as second half wore on until hitting roof of net with late free-kick. AFP -
Kylian Mbappe - 9: Had two early strikes saved by Courtois and then had ball in the net but disallowed for offside. Did score in 39th minute, drilling home into corner after PSG counter-attack. Rounded keeper and scored another just after break but again denied by offside flag. Getty -
Neymar - 6: Shot easily saved by keeper after linking up with Mbappe and Verratti. Sent Mbappe through for opening goal with first-time ball. Anonymous second 45 minutes. AP -
SUBS: Idrissa Gueye – (On for Paredes 71’) 5: Midfielder brought to try and give PSG a bit of control back into game that Real were dominating but couldn’t turn tide. AFP -
Angel Di Maria – (On for Danilo 81’) N/A. AP Julian Draxler – (On for Hakimi 88’) N/A.
