It could not be otherwise. The qualification of Real Madrid could only go through a new capital performance from Karim Benzema. Even more after Manchester City’s opener. But the Frenchman did not let his partners down. He never does. When everything seemed to be over, when the people of Madrid no longer believed in it and when he himself was more discreet than ever, the Habs came out of the woods at the start of additional time to offer the equalizer to Rodrygo (89th). A pass that changed everything.
Relaunched, Real overthrew City after extra time thanks, of course, to a goal from their captain. The Frenchman obtained a penalty by beating Ruben Dias on a touch, penalty which he undertook to transform himself, with a perfect counter-foot (94th). A goal that sent Madrid to the Champions League final, four years after the one won in kyiv. A new goal in this final phase, where Benzema never stops planting.
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3rd top scorer in C1 history
A hat-trick in the return against Paris (3-1), another in Chelsea (1-3) in the quarter-final first leg, a goal in the return (2-3), a double in the half first leg in Manchester (4-3) before this penalty… Here he is now with 10 goals in the final phase in this 2022 edition, a record equaled.
Karim Benzema celebrates his goal against City, in the semi-final return of the Champions League 2021-2022
Credit: Getty Images
He joins Cristiano Ronaldo at the top, author of the same total in 2016-2017 by guiding Real to final victory. Nothing knows if Benzema will experience such a fate but, what he is certain of, is that he will have one final match to become the top scorer in the history of the Champions League in the final phase: the final, precisely.
In the meantime, “El Nueve” continues to make history as he has become the 3rd top scorer in the history of the competition, with 86 goals, tied with Robert Lewandowski. Still far from Cristiano Ronaldo (140) and Lionel Messi (125). This penalty will also have been his 48th goal of the season in all competitions, a record for a French player since Philippe Gondet, in 1965-1966. History, we tell you!
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