Unai Emery Believes Real Madrid Can Cope Without Injured Stars

06 November 2015 01:35

Sevilla coach Unai Emery admits Real Madrid will not be hampered by the loss of Karim Benzema as the Andalusians prepare for another massive encounter.

Emery watched his side lose 3-1 to Manchester City in the Champions League this week and now faces up to the Madrid task at the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium.

Madrid could be set to miss four of their key players on Sunday, with Marcelo, Gareth Bale, and Dani Carvajal potentially joining Benzema on the sidelines.

Benzema is understood to have a thigh injury which meant he was also not part of France's friendlies squad, while his off-field issues have also dominated headlines.

Emery told Estadio Deportivo: "On Sunday we have another match with an opponent at the same level as Tuesday but we must continue working to take it forward.

"Our opponent is a favourite, along with Barcelona, to win the league. I see them well, (they are) very orderly, which gives them personality and security in many aspects of the game, which is very positive.

"They have players who know how to manage time.so I do not think their ability is severely hampered by the absence of Benzema."

Sevilla's league form has not helped their cause as they lost to Villarreal before the defeat to Manchester City and they lie 11th in the La Liga table.

The European reversal was Sevilla's third loss in four games in the competition and it left the Spaniards third in Group D.

Emery said: "The important thing is that we continue to work hard, climb up in the domestic standings and give our all in our last two group games in the Champions League."

Sevilla have won just three and lost four of their opening 10 La Liga games, leaving them 12 points adrift of table-toppers Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Sevilla, having kept just one clean sheet in their last 10 games in all competitions, take on a Real side with the most prolific attack and best defensive line in La Liga.

Real have found the back of the net 24 times and given away just four goals, while they have yet to lose a game in any competition under coach Rafael Benitez.

Los Blancos also go into Sunday's match having assured themselves of a place in the last 16 of the Champions League with two games to spare.

Nacho's goal earned Real a 1-0 home victory over Paris St Germain on Tuesday. Benitez's side cruised to a third straight La Liga triumph last weekend when they won 3-1 against Las Palmas.

"We are winning, we have qualified and we have quite a lot of injured players that everyone would deem as very important for us," Benitez said on his club's official website.

"The victory against PSG is very important."

Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored in Real's last three league games, will lead the attack alongside Jese.

Real will look to goalkeeper Keylor Navas to recover from a minor muscular injury suffered in midweek.

Source: PA-WIRE