Karim Benzema could face Lyon in the Champions League this week after being given the green light to return to action.

Benzema had been rated extremely doubtful for the match after tests last Tuesday on a groin injury indicated he would be sidelined for at least a week.

That ruled him out of Saturday's 3-0 La Liga win over Xerez, but he was included in Manuel Pellegrini's 19-man travelling squad for Tuesday's Champions League last-16 first leg against Lyon.

Benzema progressed through the ranks at Lyon and was a key player for the French giants until his big-money move to Madrid last summer.

Five senior Madrid players are missing for the trip to France though, with Pepe, Jerzy Dudek, Christoph Metzelder, Guti and Rafael van der Vaart all injured.