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 2nd – half hat trick in order to lead Real Madrid over Barcelona with a final tally of 4 to 0 on Wednesday, April 5th, 2023 which put his club team into the Copa del Rey final for the very 1st – 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 15th – 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 8th, 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.