Eder Militao's early goal earned Real Madrid a comfortable 1-0 win over Getafe on Saturday to take them provisionally top of La Liga.
Carlo Ancelotti's side now leads Barcelona by three points ahead of Celta Vigo's visit to Camp Nou on Sunday.
Elsewhere, Angel Correa's brace gave Atletico Madrid a 2-1 win over Girona, while Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli earned a creditable 1-1 draw against third-place Athletic Bilbao.
Benzema did not train on Friday and was not included in Real Madrid's match-day squad, with the club hoping the French forward will be at full strength for the Clasico next weekend.
The striker failed to score in the two matches he has played since his return from a thigh injury, and it didn't take Los Blancos long to move in front without him. Militao headed home from Luka Modric's perfect corner in the fourth minute.
Borja Mayoral should have levelled against his former side but was unable to turn home Fabrizio Angileri's cross-shot as Getafe bit back after Madrid's intense start.
Madrid put together a slick team move before the break which ended with David Soria saving a Rodrygo header, before Vinicius Junior drew a penalty, or so he thought.
The Brazilian was clumsily felled in the area by Luis Milla, but VAR spotted the ball had gone out of play in the build-up.
Madrid were foiled again before the hour mark when Rodrygo dinked the ball over Soria following a ricochet into his path, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Getafe did their best to keep Madrid at arm's length, with Vincius at his silky best on the ball, albeit too far from goal to do more damage.
With Rodrygo showing his talent, too, it will be hard for Ancelotti to work out whom he might drop to fit Benzema back into the side.