Real Madrid attacker Karim Benzema has been said to be out for some weeks in a statement released by the club's official website which they claim that he has a hamstring injury.
They have not given a timeframe for his recovery but the same injury generally takes two weeks to heal.
"Following tests carried out today on our player Karim Benzema by the Real Madrid Sanitas medical team, he has been diagnosed with an injury to his right hamstring. His recovery will continue to be assessed," the statement said.
Benzema went off at half-time of the eventual loss to Alavés at the weekend.
With Benzema out, Julen Lopetegui will be expecting other players to step in with Marcelo and Isco also out injured along with Dani Carvajal.
Just like Benzema, Gareth Bale was unable to finish Real Madrid’s LaLiga clash at Alavés on Saturday, which brought a fourth defeat in just 11 games so far this season for Los Blancos.
Bale left the field at Mendizorroza in the 80th minute, but not before managing to take a direct free-kick moments prior to his substitution, a fact that suggested the 29-year-old was not carrying anything overly serious.
The forward was taken off late on in the second half, holding his groin – the same area of his body that he had been troubled by against Atlético Madrid a week earlier, leading to his withdrawal at half-time of the derby.
He won’t however play any part against Spain on Thursday and will only feature against the Republic of Ireland.
Bale will be checked by his country’s medical staff but he doesn’t appear to have any injury and his club suggest it is more a question of muscular fatigue.
The Welshman was unable to play the second half of the Madrid derby, did not feature against CSKA Moscow and had to go off in the final stages against Alaves.
Los Blancos would have preferred to keep Bale in the Spanish capital to rest and recover during the international break but there was no clear medical report that they could point to.
Therefore, all three parties including the player himself have agreed that he will play in the official Nations League match against Ireland but not the friendly against Spain.
Madrid will cross their fingers and pray that Bale returns fit and healthy on October 17 and until then will keep a close eye on their star’s involvement.
It had appeared touch-and-go whether Bale would join up with Wales for the international break – which sees Ryan Giggs’ side take on Spain and Ireland – but he has now travelled to Cardiff, where it will be down to his national team’s medical staff to decide whether or not he is able to play.
Sources at the Welsh FA have told AS that the former Tottenham man will be closely monitored at all times and that their approach will be “not to take any risks with him”.
A year ago, Real Madrid and Wales were left at loggerheads over an injury to Bale, with the two parties issuing contradictory versions over how he picked up a problem that ended up sidelining him for over two months.
On this occasion, everyone is clear on how this should play out: stick closely to doctors’ advice and take no chances, given that Real have tough weeks ahead and will badly need a footballer who, at the moment, is one of their chief assets in attack.
Real Madrid play Levante after the break and then Barcelona with Lopetegui's job potentially on the line in that game at the Camp Nou.

                                                                            Spanish La liga predictions