Manchester City win a 4-3 thriller over Real Madrid, but Benzema keeps the hope alive

 

 

The French striker has scored an incredible 39 goals in all competitions heading into Real Madrid’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Manchester City on Tuesday evening.

 

And he had 41 goals by the end of a great European classic at the Etihad Stadium.

 

Benzema struck twice in City’s 4-3 triumph on home ground, and without his goals, Real Madrid would be out of the competition they have won a record 13 times.

With a magnificent first-time finish, the 34-year-old halved Los Blancos’ 2-0 lead in the first half, and he then struck again late in the game when his team was 4-2 down.

After Aymeric Laporte’s handball, Benzema was given the opportunity to score from the penalty spot, and he opted to do something crazy in front of millions of viewers across the world.

 

The former Lyon star had the guts to take a Panenka penalty, and it was reminiscent of Zinedine Zidane’s chance against Gianluigi Buffon in the 2006 World Cup final.