Carlo Ancelotti confident of beating Barcelona even without Karim Benzema

Carlo Ancelotti is confident Real Madrid will come out on top in Sunday's El Clasico despite the absence of Karim Benzema.

Benzema is Madrid's top scorer this season with 22 league goals and scored a brilliant hat-trick as Madrid knocked Paris Saint-Germain out of the Champions League.

However, the Frenchman is set to miss Sunday's game against Barcelona, but Ancelotti is confident his side will be able to extend their lead at the top of the LaLiga table.

"Bale is an alternative to Benzema, as is Mariano, Jovic, Isco and Rodrygo," Ancelotti said ahead of the game. "There are a lot of options but I will choose the one I think is best for this match.

"He's obviously an important part of this team, but he usually gets the job done and we now have to keep that job and look for other solutions upstairs.

"He is a player who is 34 years old and sometimes it can happen to him. They are very minor annoyances and he has recovered very quickly.

"When he has come back, he has made a difference. We have another two weeks to work with him and then he will make a difference again.

"He doesn't worry me that he won't play tomorrow because we have time for him to play at the end of the season and make a difference."

Madrid are currently on top of the LaLiga table, 10 points ahead of second-placed Sevilla, while Barcelona are in third place with 51 points, but have a game in hand.