Karim Benzema trains with Real Madrid after France retirement - in pictures

Real and Barcelona resume fight for La Liga title after World Cup break

Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema (L), Real Madrid's French defender Aurelien Tchouameni (C) and Real Madrid's Brazilian defender Eder Militao attend a training session at the Ciudad Real Madrid training complex in Valdebebas, outskirts of Madrid, on December 29, 2022, on the eve of their Spanish League football match against Real Valladolid FC. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)

From left: Real Madrid's Eden Hazard, Karim Benzema, Eduardo Camavinga and Luka Modric attend a training session on Thursday. AFP

Karim Benzema and Ferland Mendy during training in Madrid. EPA

Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga and Karim Benzema attend a training session in Valdebebas. AFP

Real Madrid's Ferland Mendy, Toni Kroos and Eduardo Camavinga during training. AFP

Real Madrid's players attend a training session in Valdebebas. AFP

Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois attends a training session. AFP

Real Madrid's David Alaba during training. AFP

Marco Asensio, left, and Federico Valverde attend a training session. AFP

Vinicius Junior, left, and Luka Modric during Real Madrid's training session. AFP

Real Madrid's defender Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga and Vinicius Junior attend a training session. AFP

From left: Real Madrid's Luka Modric, Vinicius Junior, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni and Rodrygo attend a training session. AFP

Real Madrid's Vinicius and Antonio Rudiger train on Thursday. EPA

Real Madrid ramped up reparations for the resumption of La Liga after the World Cup break and one player who can't wait for the action to begin is Karim Benzema.

The France forward announced his retirement from international football after missing out on the finals in Qatar due to injury.

Benzema scored 37 goals in 97 games for France and made the decision to quit the national team just 24 hours after Les Bleus lost the World Cup final to Argentina after a penalty shoot out.

His hopes of adding a world title to his Ballon d’Or award were ruined by a left thigh injury while training with France. However, reports have emerged that Benzema could have recovered in time for the knockout stage and that the relations between Benzema and France manager Didier Deschamps had broken down.

It is in the backdrop that Barcelona and Real Madrid resume their fight for the Spanish title.

When club play stopped in early November, Barcelona and Madrid were already threatening to make it a two-team race with nine points separating second-place Madrid from Real Sociedad in third.

Barcelona enjoy a two-point lead and host rivals Espanyol at Camp Nou on Saturday, a day before defending champions Madrid visit Valladolid.

“We have Benzema back, which is very important,” manager Carlo Ancelotti said on Thursday. “A very motivated player has returned and we are convinced that he is going to give us a lot.”