Solari praises 'generous' Benzema for playing through pain

FILE PHOTO: Club World Cup - Final - Real Madrid v Al Ain - Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - December 22, 2018 Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari celebrates winning the Club World Cup with Karim Benzema REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

MADRID (Reuters) - Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari has praised Karim Benzema for playing through the pain of a fractured finger and easing the team's shortage of forwards in recent weeks.

Benzema opted against undergoing surgery to treat the injury he sustained against Real Betis on Jan. 13 and went on to play in last week's crucial 2-0 win over Sevilla in La Liga while wearing a bandage on his finger.