Karim Benzema's fitness has dominated the pre-match talk, but it has now been confirmed that the centre-forward will be unavailable for Real Madrid against Atletico Madrid on Sunday night.

The France international missed out against Mallorca and RB Leipzig with the thigh problem that he suffered against Celtic in the Champions League last week.

Benzema was facing an uphill task to be fit for the Madrid derby, and head coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed on Saturday that his star striker would be absent this weekend.

Eden Hazard started at centre-forward against Mallorca, but Rodrygo was used in that position against Leipzig in the Champions League last time out.

Rodrygo is likely to get the nod through the middle once again, with Federico Valverde and Vinicius Junior also lining up in the final third of the field.

Toni Kroos is set to return in central midfield alongside Luka Modric and Aurelien Tchouameni, while Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy will play in the full-back areas.

Ancelotti has a big decision to make in the middle of the defence, though, with Eder Militao now fit after a thigh problem, and the Brazilian could just get the nod over Antonio Rudiger to start alongside David Alaba.

Alongside Benzema, Lucas Vazquez is Real Madrid's only other confirmed absentee at this stage, with Alvaro Odriozola and Jesus Vallejo both recently recovering from issues that had kept them on the sidelines.

Real Madrid possible starting lineup: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Mendy; Modric, Tchouameni, Kroos; Valverde, Rodrygo, Vinicius body check tags ::