Lately, Karim Benzema has been hitting on all cylinders just at the right time as Real Madrid continues to strive towards winning both the European Cup as well as the Spanish League trophy.

Plagued by Minor Injuries

Unfortunately, the Ballon d’Or winner in Benzema has been dealing with successions of minor or little injuries throughout this professional football season. Including an injury that managed to keep Karim from playing for the national club of France during their run to the 2022 World Cup final from Qatar.

The highly – skilled 35 – year – old forward is now once again seeming to be mostly healthy and Benzema is starting to play up to his potential as one of the best players in European professional football as Real Madrid prepares to make a serious run at 2 – major football championship titles.

Karim Benzema Scores on Barca!

Benzema managed to net a goal during the 2^nd – half hat trick in order to lead Real Madrid over Barcelona with a final tally of 4 to 0 on Wednesday, April 5^th, 2023 which put his club team into the Copa del Rey final for the very 1^st – time since the year of 2014.

Real Madrid is all set up now to face – off against Chelsea next week during the upcoming Champions League quarterfinals as they attempt to defend their championship title, and if they do come out victorious with a huge win it would become a record – extending 15^th – European Cup trophy they would be hoisting.

Karim was named football’s best male player due to his remarkable 2021 – 2022 campaign in which he has only played a total of 31 out of Real Madrid’s 45 – games throughout all competitions this season all based upon the minor injuries he has endured lately. He has been effective as ever when fully healthy, especially in key contests in the Champions League as well as the Copa del Rey.

Benzema popped in 3 – goals during Real Madrid’s 6 to 2 aggregate victory over Liverpool in the round of 16 of the Champions League. Following Karim being left off of France’s national team for the recent European Championship qualifying matches, the supreme striker has now scored back – to – back hat tricks for the Real Madrid football club. He pushed pass 3 – goals in a range of just 7 – minutes during a 6 to nil rout of Valladolid in the Spanish League only 3 – days prior to his hat trick at Camp Nou. Benzema is on fire right now, and he is exemplifying why he is still one of the best goal scorers in the world at the moment.

“The work during the (international) break has certainly helped him,” the head coach of Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti, expressed. “He’s found his best condition and with the quality he has, he makes a difference for sure. He’s still one of the best players in the world at the moment and when he’s in good shape he makes a difference.”

The Strategy of Coach Carlo Ancelotti

Coach Ancelotti may possibly be lured to rest Karim or potentially other regular starters on Saturday, April 8^th, 2023 when Real Madrid hosts Villarreal in a Spanish League match prior to battling Chelsea on the following Wednesday.

Ancelotti defeated Barcelona’s counterpart in Xavi Hernández through the play of his attack – minded strategy that started 11 with Benzema accompanied by the Brazilian forwards of Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo.

The Italian head coach of Real Madrid also chose to go without a stopper in the midfield as he opted to go with the passing of Luka Modric as well as Toni Kroos to accommodate the lightning – fast speed of Federico Valverde.

To be fair, Xavi had many fewer options available to him because Pedri, Ousmane Dembélé, Frenkie de Jong, and Andreas Christensen were all out die to various injuries. This may be the main reason of the ultimate inevitable result demonstrating Real Madrid’s biggest victory at Barcelona’s home stadium since their 5 to 1 victory way back in 1963.

“His numbers say it all,” the defender for Real Madrid, Dani Carvajal, stated in regards to Karim Benzema. “He was hugely important for us again and we’re thrilled to have him in this vein of form at this stage of the season because he can give us lots to smile about.”

In the meantime, Real Madrid will now have to heavily – focus on the Champions League title with Barcelona presently being up a solid 12 – points ahead of Madrid at the top of the Spanish League standings.

“We played against a great Real Madrid team,” Xavi Hernández explained. “This was a tough night that will take us time to recover from, but we have to be positive and think about Girona and the league.”

Karim Benzema’s Football Career Achievements, Honors, & Awards

Club

Lyon

• Ligue 1: 2004 – 2005, 2005 – 2006, 2006 – 2007, 2007 – 2008
• Coupe de France: 2007 – 2008
• Trophée des Champions: 2006, 2007

Real Madrid

• La Liga: 2011 – 2012, 2016 – 2017, 2019 – 2020, 2021 – 2022
• Copa del Rey: 2010 – 2011, 2013 – 2014
• Supercopa de España: 2012, 2017, 2021 – 2022
• UEFA Champions League: 2013 – 2014, 2015 – 2016, 2016 – 2017, 2017 – 2018, 2021 – 2022
• UEFA Super Cup: 2014, 2016, 2017, 2022
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022

International

France U – 17

• UEFA European Under – 17 Championship: 2004

France

• UEFA Nations League: 2020 – 2021

Individual

• Ballon d’Or: 2022
• UEFA Men’s Player of the Year: 2021 – 2022
• Golden Player Man Award: 2022
• Onze d’Or: 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
• French Player of the Year: 2011, 2012, 2014, 2021
• UEFA Champions League Player of the Season: 2021 – 2022
• UEFA Champions League Top Goal Scorer: 2021 – 2022
• FIFA FIFPRO World 11: 2022
• La Liga Player of the Season: 2019 – 2020, 2021 – 2022
• La Liga Best Player (voted by Marca fans): 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
• Trofeo Alfredo Di Stéfano: 2019 – 2020, 2021 – 2022
• Pichichi Trophy: 2021 – 2022
• UEFA Champions League Top Assist Provider: 2011 – 2012
• UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 2020 – 2021
• UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2021 – 2022
• IFFHS Men’s World Team: 2022
• Globe Soccer Awards Men’s Player of the Year: 2022
• Bravo Award: 2008
• Ligue 1 Top Scorer: 2007 – 2008
• Coupe de France Top Scorer: 2007 – 2008
• UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Month: January 2008, April 2008
• UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Year: 2007 – 2008
• UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2007 – 2008
• Golden Lion for the Best Lyon Sportsman: 2007, 2008
• French Rookie of the Year: 2006
• Étoile d’Or: 2007 – 2008
• La Liga Team of the Season: 2018 – 2019, 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
• UEFA La Liga Team of the Season: 2019 – 2020
• La Liga Player of the Month: October 2014, June 2020, March 2021, September 2021, April 2022
• Supercopa de España Top Scorer: 2021 – 2022, 2022 – 2023
• Real Madrid Player of the Season (voted by supporters): 2015 – 2016, 2018 – 2019, 2019 – 2020, 2021 – 2022
• Best French Player playing Abroad: 2019, 2021, 2022
• AS Player of the Year: 2021
• Kicker Player of the Season: 2022
• Madrid Sports Press Association Award (APDM)
• ESM Team of the Year: 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
• L’Équipe’s Team of the Year: 2020, 2021, 2022
• 2005 UEFA – CAF Meridian Cup Top Scorer
• UEFA European Championship Bronze Boot: 2020
• UEFA Nations League Finals Bronze Boot: 2021
• UEFA Nations League Finals Goal of the Tournament: 2021
• Member of Guinness World Records 2021: Player with the most consecutive seasons in the UEFA Champions League (qualified for and played in the competition without interruption since 2005)

Sources:

Wilson, Joseph. “Benzema scoring as Madrid eyes trophies in Spain and Europe”. The Associated Press. Thursday, April 6, 2023.

Football Reference News Services. “Karim Benzema”. Football Reference. Friday, April 7, 2023.

The post Karim Benzema leads Real Madrid towards 2 appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Throughout the heated competition in the European Champions League the young and explosive 22 – year – old, Vinícius Júnior, as well as the veteran pro striker in Karim Benzema are both demonstrating to be an amazing tag – team of attacking partners for the Real Madrid football club, teaming up to superior and excellent perfection in order to maintain the European champion continue to thrive.

The supreme duo of Benzema and Junior once again came up huge against Real Madrid’s amazing bounce back in the Champions League that commenced on last Tuesday, February 21^st, 2023, as they managed to score 2 – goals apiece in the 5 to 2 come – back victory at Liverpool during the 1^st – leg of the round of 16 of in the Champions League competition.

Both of them also added another assist to this season’s stat sheet as the Real Madrid football club came – from – behind back 2 – goals in order to take a dominant lead into the 2^nd – leg at the legendary and historic Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

Major Combined Threat of Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior

Vinícius and Benzema have each mutually combined to account for 17 – goals as well as 8 – assists for Real Madrid just this year alone. For the current season, the combined total amount of goals is 54, and they have come together to help out with 14 – assists.

They have been able to complemented each other extremely nicely on Real Madrid’s up – front portion of their offense as they are always finding ways to somehow find each other with fast and aggressive passes as well as their long through balls in order to set up prime scoring opportunities for each other and their teammates.

Vinícius makes his largest contributions mainly with his runs and slick footwork so that he can dazzle the crowd while devour the defenders that he passes. While the now 35 – year – old Benzema adds his well – know and experienced touches and accurate finishing strikes.

They played so well together last season too, when Benzema was awarded for being the best football player in the entire world. This season, it is Vinícius grabbing the bull by the horns as Real Madrid’s leading role in the offensive attack of his football club.

“Vinicius right now in my opinion is the most decisive player in world football, the man who can make the biggest difference,” the head coach of Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti, expressed.

The head coach of Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp, seemed to have agreed that Vinícius is one of the very best players in the world right now, and he has this to say, “Benzema is not bad.”. The Liverpool coach also commended Rodrygo, the other forward for the Real Madrid forward who has quite effectively paired up with Vinícius and Benzema for a superior offensive threat for their opponents to deal with.

Karim Benzema’s Injuries

Benzema has recently blamed his injuries for the reason that he has not been able to play even than he has been over the course of the past year, but he is deemed to be better, and his match play consists of very impressive numbers from last season.

“I’ve not played much so far, but the important thing is that I’m contributing to the team with goals and assists,” the veteran striker of Real Madrid, Karim Benzema, explained. “I’m coming off the back of a season where I played a lot of games. I was injured after the World Cup and it’s difficult to reach the top level. But I’m feeling gradually better. Today I put in a good performance and I’m going to keep going.”

Vinícius Junior has been able to succeed despite the fact that he has had to deal with racist insults hurled from spectators as well as hate attacks from opposing supporters since the very start of this current season.

Junior has scored two – times during the 1^st – half in order to bring the Real Madrid football club back into their come – from – behind victorious match win on last Tuesday, February 21^st, 2023.

“Vini’s performance lifted us,” says the Real Madrid midfielder, Federico Valverde.

Karim Benzema’s goal scores came during the 2^nd – half of Real Madrid’s last match on Tuesday, and their defender Éder Militão also scored for Real Madrid.

ANCELOTTI’S ADJUSTMENTS

Head coach Ancelotti stated that he had to make the necessary changes to Real Madrid’s formation following their slow and inadequate start to the contest, when Liverpool managed to get out in from of Real Madrid as they took advantage of Real Madrid’s vulnerability specifically on the left flank of the pitch.

“I asked Luka (Modric) to press Fabinho, but that left us unguarded on the left side,” Ancelotti goes on to say. “In the second half I put Valverde there and we could fix it.”

The 2^nd – leg versus the Liverpool football club is on Wednesday, March 15^th, 2023.

2^nd – place Real Madrid soccer team, which is behind their rival in Barcelona by only 8 – points at the moment, will now have to face off against another one of their bitter rivals in Atletico Madrid in the Spanish League on this Saturday, February 25^th, 2023.

Karim Benzema’s Football Career Achievements, Honors, & Awards

Lyon

• Ligue 1: 2004 – 2005, 2005 – 2006, 2006 – 2007, 2007 – 2008
• Coupe de France: 2007 – 2008
• Trophée des Champions: 2006, 2007

Real Madrid

• La Liga: 2011 – 2012, 2016 – 2017, 2019 – 2020, 2021 – 2022
• Copa del Rey: 2010 – 2011, 2013 – 2014
• Supercopa de España: 2012, 2017, 2021 – 2022
• UEFA Champions League: 2013 – 2014, 2015 – 2016, 2016 – 2017, 2017 – 2018, 2021 – 2022
• UEFA Super Cup: 2014, 2016, 2017, 2022
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022

France U – 17

• UEFA European Under – 17 Championship: 2004

France

• UEFA Nations League: 2020 – 2021
• FIFA World Cup runner – up: 2022

Individual

• Ballon d’Or: 2022
• UEFA Men’s Player of the Year: 2021 – 2022
• Golden Player Man Award: 2022
• Onze d’Or: 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
• French Player of the Year: 2011, 2012, 2014, 2021
• UEFA Champions League Player of the Season: 2021 – 2022
• UEFA Champions League top goal scorer: 2021 – 2022
• La Liga Player of the Season: 2019 – 2020, 2021 – 2022
• La Liga Best Player (voted by Marca fans): 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
• Trofeo Alfredo Di Stéfano: 2019 – 2020, 2021 – 2022
• Pichichi Trophy: 2021 – 2022
• UEFA Champions League top assist provider: 2011 – 2012
• UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 2020 – 2021
• UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2021 – 2022
• IFFHS Men’s World Team: 2022
• Globe Soccer Awards Men’s Player of the Year: 2022
• Bravo Award: 2008
• Ligue 1 top scorer: 2007 – 2008
• Coupe de France top scorer: 2007 – 2008
• UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Month: January 2008, April 2008
• UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Year: 2007 – 2008
• UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2007 – 2008
• Golden Lion for the best Lyon sportsman: 2007, 2008
• French Rookie of the Year: 2006
• Étoile d’Or: 2007 – 2008
• La Liga Team of the Season: 2018 – 2019, 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
• UEFA La Liga Team of the Season: 2019 – 2020
• La Liga Player of the Month: October 2014, June 2020, March 2021, September 2021, April 2022
• Supercopa de España top scorer: 2021 – 2022, 2022 – 2023
• Real Madrid Player of the Season (voted by supporters): 2015 – 2016, 2018 – 2019, 2019 – 2020, 2021 – 2022
• Best French Player playing Abroad: 2019, 2021, 2022
• AS Player of the Year: 2021
• Kicker Player of the Season: 2022
• Madrid Sports Press Association Award (APDM)
• ESM Team of the Year: 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
• L’Équipe’s Team of the Year: 2020, 2021, 2022
• 2005 UEFA – CAF Meridian Cup top scorer
• UEFA European Championship Bronze Boot: 2020
• UEFA Nations League Finals Bronze Boot: 2021
• UEFA Nations League Finals Goal of the Tournament: 2021
• Member of Guinness World Records 2021: Player with the most consecutive seasons in the UEFA Champions League (qualified for and played in the competition without interruption since 2005)

Vinicius Junior’s Football Career Achievements, Honors, & Awards

Real Madrid

• La Liga: 2019 – 2020, 2021 – 2022
• Supercopa de España: 2019 – 2020, 2021 – 2022
• UEFA Champions League: 2021 – 2022
• UEFA Super Cup: 2022
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2018, 2022

Brazil U – 15

• South American U – 15 Championship: 2015

Brazil U – 17

• South American U – 17 Championship: 2017
• BRICS U – 17 Football Cup: 2016

Individual

• Copa São Paulo de Futbol Júnior Best Left – Winger: 2017
• South American U – 17 Championship Best Player: 2017
• La Liga Player of the Month: November 2021
• UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2021 – 2022
• UEFA Champions League Young Player of the Season: 2021 – 2022
• La Liga Team of the Season: 2021 – 2022
• FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2022

Sources:

Azzoni, Tales. “Young Vinícius, veteran Benzema make perfect duo for Madrid”. The Associated Press. Wednesday, February 22, 2023.

Football Reference News Services. “Karim Benzema”. Football Reference. Thursday, February 23, 2023.

Football Reference News Services. “Vinícius Júnior”. Football Reference. Thursday, February 23, 2023.

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