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 21st, 2023, as they managed to score 2 – goals apiece in the 5 to 2 come – back victory at Liverpool during the 1st – 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 2nd – 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 1st – half in order to bring the Real Madrid football club back into their come – from – behind victorious match win on last Tuesday, February 21st, 2023.
“Vini’s performance lifted us,” says the Real Madrid midfielder, Federico Valverde.
Karim Benzema’s goal scores came during the 2nd – 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 2nd – leg versus the Liverpool football club is on Wednesday, March 15th, 2023.
2nd – 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 25th, 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.