)
Manchester City will be quaking in their boots at the prospect of facing Karim Benzema again, here are three key reasons why
Manchester City host Real Madrid in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal hoping to banish the ghosts of last year and reach their second final in three years.
With a final against Inter on the horizon for the winner of this tie, this could be Manchester City’s best chance to secure the first UCL title in the club’s history, but in their way stands a mammoth of the competition who stopped them from reaching the final last season.
Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema has gained a recent reputation as the bogeyman of the UEFA Champions League for several reasons and will be a key worry for the Cityzens at the Etihad. Here are the top three.
Last year’s semifinal
In the clubs’ most recent meeting, Benzema was crucial to Real Madrid getting the better of Manchester City, as he scored three times over two legs to earn Los Blancos a place in the final.
His two goals at the Etihad in the 4-3 first-leg loss for Real Madrid kept them in the tie, while his cool and crucial penalty in extra time in the second leg sealed a 6-5 aggregate win to take Los Blancos to the promised land.
With those crucial goals against them still in the minds of the City players, they will certainly have to keep a special eye on the Frenchman to avoid a repeat of last year’s heroics.
Karim Benzema slayer of English teams
In recent years, Benzema has developed a taste for demolishing teams in England’s Premier League, and this season alone, he has already scored four times in four games against Manchester City’s compatriots.
The Frenchman scored three goals over two legs in the round of 16 against Liverpool and continued his scoring spree against Premier League teams by getting one goal against Chelsea in the quarterfinal as well.
Last season, the Real Madrid captain directly contributed to eight goals in five games against English opposition, scoring seven goals, including a hat-trick at Stamford Bridge, as Real Madrid conquered Europe for the 14th time.
In total, Benzema has scored 20 times against English opponents in the Champions League, with only Lionel Messi (27) scoring more than the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner.
Knockout stage specialist
Last season was special for Benzema as he scored 10 goals in the knockout stage of the Champions League to lead Real Madrid to glory with some breathtaking performances along the way.
It continued a trend of scoring important goals at the business end of the UCL season for Benzema and this season, he has scored all four of his goals in the knockout rounds to make him the player with the third most goals from the round of 16 onwards, with only Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi ahead of him.
Particularly in the semifinal stage, Benzema has scored eight goals in 17 games, making him the second-highest goalscorer in this stage of the UCL, with only Ronaldo (13) getting more goals than him.
Manchester City will be wary of Benzema extending this and other Champions League records when they face Real Madrid at the Etihad and they will no doubt be devising a special way to stop the Frenchman if one truly exists.
Related content
)
21:16 - 16.05.2023
Manchester City vs Real Madrid: Ballon d'Or winner backs former team to reach final
2006 Ballon d'Or winner Fabio Cannavaro has tipped his former side Real Madrid to come out on top against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League semifinal
)
20:20 - 16.05.2023
Arsenal and Manchester City dominate PFA Fans Player of the Year nominees
Arsenal and Manchester City have expectedly received the most nominees for the PFA Fans' Player of the Year award
)
18:28 - 16.05.2023
Manchester City Vs Real Madrid: 3 tactics Ancelotti should employ to defeat Guardiola
Ancelotti will aim to outclass arguably the best manager in the world as Real Madrid take on Manchester City.
)
20:01 - 23.08.2024
Revealed! Top 10 richest clubs in England (2024)
Premier League clubs are known for their abundant riches. Here are the 10 richest clubs in England in 2024.
)
15:23 - 16.05.2023
Walker begs Vinicius not to make him a meme
Manchester City star Kyle Walker reveals a comical moment between himself and Vinicius in their Champions League semi-final first-leg encounter.
)
19:44 - 15.05.2023
PSG to sign Manchester City star as Lionel Messi's replacement
PSG have set their eyes on Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva as a possible replacement for Lionel Messi.
)
17:29 - 15.05.2023
Real Madrid join the race for Victor Osimhen
Real Madrid are considering signing Napoli striker Victor Osimhen after leading his team to the Scudetto this season.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)