Xavi reacts to Karim Benzema absence for El Clasico

Barcelona boss Xavi has offered his opinion on the absence of Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema for Sunday evening's El Clasico at Bernabeu.

Benzema will miss the match for Real Madrid due to a calf problem, meaning that Los Blancos Carlo Ancelotti has been forced into a rethink in the final third of the field.

Xavi has branded the France international "one of the best nines in the world" and has said that his absence is "an important loss" ahead of the La Liga contest in the Spanish capital.

"Benzema is one of the best nines in the world, it's an important loss, but it doesn't change anything in our strategy. I suppose it might change something for them," Xavi told reporters.

Gareth Bale, Isco, Luka Jovic, Mariano Diaz and Rodrygo are all options to replace Benzema at centre-forward for the league contest at Bernabeu.

Barcelona, meanwhile, will again be missing Ansu Fati, Sergi Roberto, Samuel Umtiti and Alejandro Balde through injury; Sergino Dest has also been ruled out of the contest due to a hamstring problem.