Red-hot Higuain gives Real welcome headache

The Argentina striker, who missed most of the second half of last season with a back injury, netted his third hat-trick in two weeks in Saturday's 4-1 La Liga win at home to Real Betis and is making a strong case for a regular starting spot ahead of former Lyon forward Karim Benzema.

"It's hard for me to say this one's a starter and that one isn't," Mourinho told a news conference after the Betis game.

"There is no such thing as a starter for me when one has players as good as these," the Portuguese added.

"It's difficult for one footballer to play three, four, five or six games, and for another to be benched for three, four or five. They're all very good players.

"Karim had a very good start and Higuain is currently scoring goals. This is excellent for all of us."

"Benzema was on the bench [against Betis] and ready to come on if we had trouble in attack," Mourinho said.

"We then scored and there was no reason to take risks. He's just recovered from an injury and it will be better for him to train tomorrow [Sunday] and on Monday."

"We did not want to waste too much energy because it will be another story in Madrid," said France striker Bafetimbi Gomis, who scored his seventh league goal of the season.

"I think Madrid was on everyone's mind," coach Remi Garde added as he tried to explain Lyon's below-par second half. "At least I hope so."