Karim Benzema goes head-to-head with Lionel Messi following qualifying for a new Champions League final once morest Real Madrid
After leaving the Etihad Stadium in England defeated in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final once morest Manchester City, Real Madrid faced the return leg at their stadium, with their fans, and they did not disappoint.
The whites played perhaps the best match of the KO phase of the championship. From minute one, the meringues dominated the game with 86% pass accuracy, six shots and 49% ball possession.
In the second half they came out dominant and had at least three clear chances to open the scoring. City struck first following a great move by Bernardo Silva and Mahrez. Guardiola began to make changes to protect the result, but at minute 90 and with six added, the crazy hour began at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Karim Benzema turned into gold a vulgar long ball awarded by Camavinga and at 90 Rodrygo made it 1-1 that kept leaving Madrid out. A minute later, the carioca headed it 2-1. Already in the first minutes of extra time, Karim Benzema received a foul inside the area that, following signaling the penalty, converted and made it 3-1.
For the first time in its history and following eight unsuccessful qualifiers, Real Madrid qualified for a Champions League final following losing the first leg of the Semifinal.
Karim Benzema is thus heading for the Ballon d’Or, as he is the third top scorer in the Champions League tied with Robert Lewandowski (86) and surpassed by Messi (125) and Cristiano Ronaldo (140).
The cat equaled Cristiano Ronaldo as the player who has scored the most goals (10) in the KO rounds of the same UEFA Champions League.
