Karim Benzema celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Champions League match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge on April 6, 2022 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)
Benzema hat trick sees Real Madrid roll past Chelsea
Karim Benzema celebrates scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge on April 6, 2022 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)
Real Madrid take a two-goal advantage ahead of the second leg at home
If you were still on the fence as to what a difference maker Karim Benzema is to Real Madrid, his performance against Chelsea surely took away any of that doubt.
The French striker netted a hat trick as Real Madrid made rather quick work of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues started the game off promising but it wouldn’t take long for the visitors to turn things around and for Benzema to score.
In the 21st minute, Benzema played the ball to Vinicius down the right. As the Brazilian carried the ball, Benzema quickly made his way into the box with none of the Chelsea defenders around him. Vinicius then delivered the cross to Benzema whose powerful header beat Edouard Mendy.
Three minutes later, he picked up his brace, this time linking up with Luka Modric. The midfielder sent in a cross just outside of the box and in between two defenders, Benzema maneuvered his header away from an oncoming Mendy. Just like that, Real Madrid were well on top.
Chelsea did manage to pull a goal back courtesy of Kai Havertz. But any hopes of leveling came to an abrupt halt as less than a minute into the second half, Benzema got his hat trick.
It’s become a pattern now where the opposing goalkeeper makes a mistake and Benzema quickly pounces and takes advantage. It happened again this time as a sloppy pass from Mendy was intercepted by Benzema who wasn’t going to miss.
After the game, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti was full of nothing but praise for his striker.
“He’s better every day, like wine,” Ancelotti — who had only flown to London on matchday after recovering from COVID-19 — said in a post-match news conference. “Every day he shows more leadership, he feels more important for this team and this squad. That’s what makes the difference in him. He has a lot more personality.”
Source: ESPN
Benzema completely changes the dynamic of Madrid’s attack and it’s noticeable when he’s absent. He makes everyone better, particularly Vinicius and it was demonstrated in the first goal.
“They’re magical nights, like at the Bernabeu against Paris [Saint-Germain],” Benzema said. “Today we went onto the pitch to win and to show what Real Madrid is. We played well from the first minute until the last.”
Benzema has now scored six goals in his last two Champions League games. One against PSG and one against Chelsea. He also became the first player ever to put three past Chelsea in the competition. He has Real Madrid primed to make it to the semifinals and while anything can happen, it’s difficult to see Chelsea mounting a comeback at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Especially with the form Benzema finds himself in. Many were calling him the best striker in the world. As it stands, that argument can be taken one step further as he is certainly in the conversation for the best player in the world at the moment.
