Real Madrid's Benzema breaks Henry's French record but limps off ahead of el clasico

Benzema nets twice in 3-0 win over Mallorca but Madrid coach Ancelotti says striker and others will have to be assessed ahead of Sunday's meeting with Barca

Karim Benzema of Real Madrid celebrates scoring his team's third goal in a 3-0 La Liga win over Mallorca at Estadio de Son Moix on March 14, 2022 in Mallorca, Spain. AFP

Karim Benzema of Real Madrid scores his team's second goal from the penalty spot. Getty Images

Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring against Mallorca to make it 2-0. AFP

Real Mallorca's Slovakian defender Martin Valjent fights for the ball with Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema. AFP

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, centre, jumps to head home his side's third goal. It was the French striker's 413th career goal, to see him overtake Thierry Henry's previous mark. AP

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, centre, tries to beat Mallorca's Antonio Raillo, left and Martin Valjent. AP Photo

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema celebrates scoring their second goal. Reuters

Soccer Football - LaLiga - RCD Mallorca vs Real Madrid - Visit Mallorca Stadium, Palma de Mallorca, Spain - March 14, 2022 Real Madrid's Karim Benzema reacts REUTERS / Juan Medina

Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema reacts during the Spanish League football match between RCD Mallorca and Real Madrid CF at the Son Moix stadium in Palma de Mallorca on March 14, 2022. (Photo by JAIME REINA / AFP)

Real Madrid's striker Karim Benzema reacts during the Spanish La Liga match against Mallorca. EPA

Real Madrid's striker Karim Benzema leaves the pitch after suffering an injury. EPA

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books on Monday with a brace in Real Madrid's 3-0 win over Mallorca, but the striker's night was soured when he was withdrawn injured that now puts his place in Sunday's el clasico in doubt.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."

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