As Real Madrid prepares to face Atletico Madrid in the 230th Madrid derby, some key players from both sides will be missing from the action.

The Madrid derby has not failed to live up to expectations. Although the stats behind it clearly shows Real Madrid’s dominance, the game is always far from being written off.

This season, the two sides have been competitive, especially Real Madrid, which remains the only club in Europe’s top five leagues to maintain a hundred percent record.

Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid will face off at Wanda Metropolitano on Sunday.

Players miss out on the action

Karim Benzema

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Benzema left the pitch thirty minutes into the game against Celtic in the Champions League and was immediately replaced by Eden Hazard. The Frenchman had missed the game against Mallorca and RB Leipzig.

On Thursday, the club’s medical staff revealed he would not be available for the clash with the Rojiblancos. Although Ancelotti had other options he could choose, his presence would have helped in the club’s attacking strength.

Lucas Vazquez

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The Spaniard is one of the essential players in Carlo Ancelotti’s setup but did not train with the rest of the squad, along with Karim Benzema. Vazquez is racing to recovery following a groin injury.

Jan Oblak

Although there’s doubt regarding the availability of Jan Oblak, he failed to train with the rest of the squad on Thursday and Friday, which places him in doubt regarding the clash with Real Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Oblak has been a long-standing goalkeeper for Atletico Madrid and has made incredible saves when it matters the most.

Thomas Lemar

Lemar is out of the game due to muscle strain. He was missing from the club’s shock defeat at Bayer Leverkusen. His presence would have strengthened Atletico Madrid’s midfield.