Jose Mourinho is backing French striker Karim Benzema to make the grade at Real Madrid, insisting he is satisfied with his recent showings and that "he will end up in the starting line-up."

"He is playing very well at the moment," said Mourinho ahead of the Spanish Cup return with Real Murcia, who held his stars to a goalless draw in the opening leg.

"He has a lot of class and does what we expect of him -he will start the game and we need him to score. It is a decisive match and I am waiting for a positive response from him as in the last few matches. If he works to that end he will end up in the starting line-up"

Benzema has largely featured from the bench so far this season and Mourinho has suggested he needs to galvanise his attitude. But in the recent win at Alicante and then in the draw away to AC Milan in the Champions League he impressed and laid on a goal in both games.