Karim Benzema has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a cruciate ligament injury sustained in the 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid on Saturday.

The French striker was replaced by substitute Lucas Vazquez after being forced off at the start of the second half. He underwent surgery on Monday and is expected to be sidelined for six months.

Benzema's absence could have significant implications for Al Hilal, who rely heavily on their star forward for both goal scoring and attacking creativity.

However, it remains to be seen how much impact his absence will have on the team's performance. The club has already suffered a number of injuries this season, including those to key players like goalkeeper Adnan al-Nasir and midfielder Khalid Al-Khaleel.

Despite these setbacks, Al Hilal still have a strong squad and should be able to cope without their talismanic forward for the time being. However, they may struggle to find a replacement that can replicate Benzema's goalscoring prowess.

Overall, Benzema's injury is a major setback for Al Hilal and will require careful management of the squad going forward. While the team may be able to cope without him for now, it remains to be seen whether they can turn things around in the coming weeks and months.

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• Injury
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• Karim
• Benzema