Tag: Karim Benzema

MADRID: Karim Benzema netted two goals on penalties as Real Madrid stormed bottom-placed Elche at Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday to restore the eight-point gap to leaders Barcelona.  

Marco Asensio and Luka Modric also scored goals in each half during Real’s comfortable 4-0 win, which cut short arch-rival Barcelona’s eleven-point lead over them.

Real, who won the Club World Cup in Morocco on Sunday for a record fifth time, are second on the La Liga table with 48 points after 21 games.

Madrid fully dominated the visitors throughout the game with Asensio breaking the deadlock in just eight minutes when he went past Elche’s defence and fired a low shot into the bottom left corner.

Ballon D’Or winner Benzema double the lead after the half-hour mark from the spot, after his header was handled by Enzo Roco in the area.

The French forward made it 3-0 before half-time through another penalty, awarded to Real for a foul on forward Rodrygo.

Benzema’s brace took him to 11 league goals in the season, three short of leader Robert Lewandowski of Barcelona.

Modric rounded off the rout for Real, 10 minutes before time, hitting into the top left corner from the edge of the box.

Defending champions Real will face Osasuna on Sunday in their next La Liga fixture.

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DOHA: France’s hopes of successfully defending the World Cup were dealt a huge blow late on Saturday as Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema was ruled out of the tournament in Qatar with an injured left thigh.

The 34-year-old Real Madrid striker had been struggling with the injury for some time and had played less than half an hour of football in his club’s last six games before the World Cup.

On Saturday, he took part in full training for the first time since the World Cup holders gathered last week ahead of the tournament.

He was forced to withdraw from the session at the home stadium of Qatari champions Al Sadd with the injury and was taken for tests.

The French Football Federation (FFF) later said in a statement that the injury “will require a recovery period of three weeks”, ruling out any prospect of him being fully fit for the tournament which finishes on December 18.

“I am extremely sad for Karim, for whom this World Cup was a major objective,” France coach Didier Deschamps was quoted as saying in the FFF statement.

“Despite this new blow for the France team I have full faith in my squad. We will do all we can to rise to the huge challenge that awaits us.”

The 36-year-old Olivier Giroud is set to benefit from Benzema’s absence by coming into the France attack alongside Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann.

However, under FIFA rules Deschamps can still call up a replacement for an injured player until Monday, on the eve of their first game.

France begin their defence of the trophy on Tuesday, when they take on Australia in Al Wakrah.

They will also play Denmark and Tunisia in Group D as they aim to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup.

PARIS: Karim Benzema was rewarded for his remarkable success with Real Madrid by winning the Ballon d’Or at a star-studded ceremony in Paris on Monday, while Spain’s Alexia Putellas retained the women’s prize.

Benzema, who is the first French winner of the most prestigious individual award in football since Zinedine Zidane in 1998, scored 44 goals in 46 games for his club last season as Real won the Champions League and La Liga.

Fifteen of his goals came in the Champions League, including hat-tricks in knockout wins against Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea and three more across both legs of a stunning semi-final defeat of Manchester City.

The 34-year-old, who also won the UEFA Nations League with France, succeeds Lionel Messi with the Argentine not nominated this year after claiming the prize for the seventh time in 2021.

“The Ballon d’Or might be individual but it’s still a collective award. This is the Ballon d’Or of the people,” Benzema declared.

“Winning this trophy was always something that was in the back of my mind,” he added.

Benzema pushed Sadio Mane into second place, although the Bayern Munich and Senegal star did have his off-field work recognised as he was given a new award named after former Brazil star Socrates.

Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City was third, with Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski coming fourth.

Winning the award, organised by France Football magazine, caps a remarkable career revival for Benzema, who was frozen out of the France team for five and a half years because of his involvement in a blackmail scandal over a sextape involving teammate Mathieu Valbuena.

He was later handed a one-year suspended prison sentence and fined 75,000 euros ($73,848).

He returned to the national team for last year’s European Championship and will now go to the World Cup in Qatar with France next month.

“There were moments that were much more difficult for me, for example when I wasn’t with the national team, but I am really, really proud of my journey,” he added.

Benzema turns 35 on December 19, the day after the World Cup final, and is the oldest winner of the Ballon d’Or since the very first, Stanley Matthews in 1956.

The former Lyon striker is also the fifth Frenchman to win the prize, with Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini and Jean-Pierre Papin all getting their hands on the trophy before Zidane.

The award was previously based on a player’s performances over the course of the calendar year.

But the format has changed, with the prize now based on a player’s record over the last season.

That may have helped Putellas win the women’s award despite suffering a serious knee injury in July that saw her miss the European Championship with Spain.

Instead, Putellas’s performances with Barcelona were recognised after she top-scored in the Women’s Champions League to help the Catalans reach the final, which they lost to Lyon.

“It makes me even more annoyed to be injured, but I am very happy to be here,” Putellas said.

“To retain the trophy is much harder. When I injured my knee I thought my chances of winning it had gone but in the end the jury based their decision on the whole of last season, of which I only missed one month.”

The 28-year-old edged out Beth Mead, who scored six goals for the England side that won the Euro on home soil.

Sam Kerr of Chelsea and Australia came third.

It is just the fourth time a women’s Ballon d’Or has been awarded, with Norway’s Ada Hegerberg winning the inaugural prize in 2018 and Megan Rapinoe triumphing in 2019.

There was no ceremony in 2020 due to the pandemic, before Putellas won her first a year ago.

Her injury means she is unlikely to make it a hat-trick next year, although she hopes to play again this season.

“The knee is doing well. I just need to focus on recovering and if everything goes as I hope — and as the doctors and my club hope — I will be back playing this season,” she said.

Barcelona and Spain midfielder Gavi won the Kopa Trophy for the best player aged under 21, while Lewandowski received the award for last season’s top goalscorer, renamed the Gerd Mueller Trophy.

Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois won the prize for best goalkeeper of the year.

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MADRID: Kike Garcia struck in the second half while Karim Benzema missed the penalty as Osasuna ended Real Madrid’s perfect run in the ongoing LaLiga season here at Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday. 

After six consecutive victories since the start of the season, defending champions Real finally had their first draw when they were held by 10-man Osasuna 1-1.

For the first time in LaLiga 2022-23, Real would be ending the matchday without being at the top of the table as Barcelona ascended to the top spot after beating Mallorca 1-0 yesterday.

Vinicius Junior scored the opening goal three minutes before halftime with a bizarre cross-come-shot but Kike equalized after the break with a cheeky flicked header.

Osasuna were down to 10 players when David Garcia was sent off for pushing Benzema which led to the penalty.

Benzema, however, missed the opportunity and smashed the penalty off the crossbar.

Meanwhile in another game on Sunday Real Sociedad thumped Girona 5-3 after a thrilling competition at Montilivi.

Alexander Sorioth scored a brace while Brais Mendez, Martin Zubimendi and Takefusa Kubo each netted a ball once to upset the home crowd.

At Balaidos, Gabri Viega’s early goal helped the home team Celta Vigo to edge past 10-man Real Betis.

Eray Comert scored in the closing time aiding Valencia to finish on a 2-2 draw against the home side Espanyol when they were cruising to victory.

Serigi Darder netted the ball in the 83rd minute after a magnificent hit to put the hosts in the lead but Comert levelled things up.

The action-filled tournament is being telecasted live on Pakistan’s first HD Sports channel – A Sports and is simultaneously streamed on the digital platform of ARY Digital Network – ARY ZAP in crystal clear HD quality.

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ISTANBUL: Karim Benzema and Alexia Putellas were rewarded for outstanding seasons by winning the UEFA men’s and women’s player of the year prizes at a ceremony in Istanbul on Thursday.

France striker Benzema captained Real Madrid to victory over Liverpool in the Champions League final and scored 15 goals in the competition, while Putellas was the top scorer in the Women’s Champions League, helping Barcelona reach the final which they lost to Lyon.

Benzema took the men’s honours ahead of club team-mate Thibaut Courtois and Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, succeeding Chelsea midfielder Jorginho who won the award last year.

The 34-year-old scored hat-tricks against Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea in the Champions League knockout rounds and netted three times across the two legs of the semi-final against Manchester City.

He struck 44 times in 46 games altogether as Real also won the Spanish title.

Putellas, 28, claimed the prize for a second straight year despite suffering a serious knee injury that ruled her out of Euro 2022.

She finished ahead of England forward and European champion Beth Mead, the joint leading scorer at the tournament, and young Germany midfielder Lena Oberdorf.

Carlo Ancelotti was named best men’s coach for his success with Real, with Dutchwoman Sarina Wiegman crowned best women’s coach after leading England to Euro glory on home soil last month.

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PARIS: Danish striker Andreas Cornelius sealed the fate of his national team with two startling goals in a tough game against the world champions France, in UEFA Nations League Group A match, here at Stade de France Stadium on Friday.

France striker Karim Benzema, fresh out of UEFA Champions League victory for his club Real Madrid, looked in a sublime form in this match as well. He forced Denmark under enormous pressure from the start and was finally able to net the ball in the 51st minute as he dribbled past Denmark’s defense.

Cornelius who came as a substitute in the second half, however, leveled the France lead in the 68th minute.

France remained undeterred by the goal and continued with its attacks. French midfielder N’Golo Kante could have put France back in the lead, yet his fierce shot hit the right-hand post.

The 29-years old Cornelius, however, blasted the ball into the net in the 88th minute of the game to lead his team towards victory.

Denmark will now face group leaders Austria in an away game while France will take on Croatia on the latter’s home soil, who lost 3-0 to Austria on Friday.

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MADRID: The 2022 La Liga winners Real Madrid cruised to a comprehensive 6-0 victory over Levante at the back of Vinicius Junior, here on Friday.

In a clash between the top and the bottom, Madrid made sure that their standings’ difference remained evident on the field as the already crowned championship hammered Levante and tested the side’s defences, which was reflected in the scoreline as well.

The hosts took an early lead in just the ninth minute of the game as Ferland Mendy surged forward to slot the ball home.

The Madrid skipper Benzema, who is back into the side after being rested for the La Liga derby against Atletico Madrid, soon found himself amongst the goals, getting on the end of a Vinicius cross at the back post.

Madrid then walked in their third goal before the half-time as Rodrygo combined with Luka Modric before the youngster tapped in from close range.

Modric then again provided the assist, this time to Vinicius, who tucked home from a tight angle.

The second half was all about Vinicius, who netted twice more to complete his hat-trick – first for the Madrid.

He scored his second in the 67th minute following a close assist from Benzema, who danced around the goalkeeper before passing to him. The final blow came in the 83rd minute when he took advantage of a Luka Jovic pass before netting the ball away with his left foot.

It is pertinent to mention here that with his 19th-minute goal against Levante, Benzema has equalled Raul’s record of the second-most goals (323) for the club, with only Cristiano Ronaldo (450) scoring more.

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MADRID: Real Madrid overcome a 3-4 deficit in the first leg of the semi-final to stun Manchester City and booked the Champions League final against Liverpool.

In a high-octane clash between the two sides, the first half of the match featured some heavy striking and a lot of drama but yet no team could make the strike with City, still leading the scoreboard in terms of the aggregate.

City, which already had the aggregate in their favour, looked even more favourite to advance into the final when Riyad Mahrez made the first strike for the side in the 73rd and extended the lead to 5-3.

Madrid’s Rodrygo Silva de Goes made a timely 90th-minute strike to force the match into the extra time. The Brazilain footballer then scored his second goal within a minute to level the aggregate score.

In the 95th minute, Benzema rushed to a loose ball in the box but City’s defender Ruben Dias brought him down. He then opted to take the penalty by himself and converted it as the match-winning strike and a ticket to the Champions League final for his side.

Madrid will contest the second major final in the ongoing month as the La Liga 2022 champions will take on Liverpool on May 29 at Stade de France.

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SEVILLE: Karim Benzema completed another incredible Real Madrid comeback on Sunday as they fought from two goals down to defeat Sevilla 3-2 in La Liga.

After trailing Chelsea 3-0 on Tuesday only to secure their place in the Champions League semi-finals, Madrid stunned Sevilla to seal the victory that has surely won them La Liga.

Defeat would have given fresh hope to the chasing pack, with Sevilla and Barcelona both beginning the day 12 points behind, Barca with two games in hand.

Instead, goals in the second half from Rodrygo, Nacho Fernandez and Benzema in the 92nd minute mean Madrid extend their advantage to 15 points with six games left to play.

An Ivan Rakitic free-kick and Erik Lamela’s smart finish had put Sevilla two up at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Benzema’s goal finished Chelsea off on Tuesday after Rodrygo had forced extra-time at the Santiago Bernabeu and those two, along with Vinicius Junior, were crucial again.

Benzema now has 44 goals in 46 appearances this season and 15 in his last 10.

Rakitic gave Sevilla the lead in the 25th minute, curling a free-kick into the corner after Luka Modric had brought down Papu Gomez.

Lamela doubled the advantage four minutes later, slotting after Tecatito drew out Thibaut Courtois and left the net open.

But a superb Vinicius backheel for Dani Carvajal allowed Rodrygo to pull a goal back in the 50th minute.

Vinicius thought he had made it 2-2 in the 74th minute, only for the goal to be ruled out, the referee deciding the Brazilian had controlled with his arm and not his chest.

Madrid though were undeterred as Rakitic headed away a corner, only for Carvajal to drive to the line and pull back for Nacho to finish.

And then in the 92nd minute, Benzema completed another remarkable revival, collecting Rodrygo’s pass, controlling and firing past three Sevilla defenders on the line.

Ten-man Atletico Madrid left it late too as Yannick Carrasco scored the winning penalty with the last kick of the game for a 2-1 win over Espanyol.

Atletico looked set to drop another two points at the Wanda Metropolitano when Geoffrey Kondogbia was sent off in the second half and then three minutes later Raul de Tomas cancelled out Carrasco’s opener, his free-kick squirming through the fingers of Jan Oblak.

But De Tomas handballed deep into added time, the referee awarding the spot-kick after a long consultation with VAR before Carrasco held his nerve. The ball hit the net with the clock approaching 100 minutes.

Atletico stay three points clear of Real Betis in fifth and level on points with third-placed Sevilla.

After losing away at Mallorca last weekend and then being knocked out of the Champions League by Manchester City in midweek, Diego Simeone’s side could ill-afford another dent to their morale.

The significance of the win was demonstrated by the Argentinian celebrating Carrasco’s winning penalty by sprinting down the touchline, before joining his relieved players in the corner.

Atletico cut Espanyol open in the 52nd minute as Matheus Cunha, on at half-time, slipped in Carrasco, who turned inside and drove through Diego Lopez at the near post.

But the game turned in Espanyol’s favour in the 71st minute when Kondogbia was shown a second yellow card for blocking Sergi Darder’s shot with his hand and then from the resulting free-kick, De Tomas equalised.

The usually reliable Oblak was at fault as the goalkeeper fumbled a simple save, the ball hitting the post and dribbling in.

With a man extra, Espanyol wanted a winner but Atletico found a way back.

In the 95th minute, De Tomas went to clear Antoine Griezmann’s flicked header but got his angles wrong and instead the ball caught his elbow. In the 100th minute, Carrasco made no mistake.

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MADRID: Luka Modric turned the tie and Karim Benzema settled it as Real Madrid held off a sensational fightback from Chelsea on Tuesday to win an enthralling Champions League quarter-final 5-4 on aggregate.

Chelsea wiped out Madrid’s 3-1 lead from the first leg in stunning fashion at the Santiago Bernabeu as Mason Mount, Antonio Rudiger and Timo Werner put Europe’s reigning champions on the brink of an incredible victory.

But the 36-year-old Modric intervened with another moment of genius to add to the very best of his glittering career, a sumptuous pass with the outside of his right foot setting up Rodrygo to volley in and sending a nerve-shredding contest into extra time.

After scoring a hat-trick at Stamford Bridge, Benzema then stepped forward to claim the winner, the Frenchman capitalising on a Rudiger slip to head in, a 3-2 defeat enough to see Madrid into the semi-finals.

At the final whistle, Modric and Benzema dropped to the floor, their combined 70 years of age belying another two vintage contributions that have dragged Real Madrid in sight of a 14th European Cup.

They will face either Manchester City or rivals Atletico Madrid in the last four.

After being thrashed by Brentford and then outplayed by Madrid in the first leg last week, Chelsea came in rejuvenated after putting six past Southampton in the Premier League last weekend.

Thomas Tuchel said on Monday they would need a “fantastic script” to pull off this comeback and they certainly delivered that, their only failing an inability to prevent Modric and Benzema from doing what they have done so many times before.

Mount’s goal in the 15th minute set the tone, Madrid was immediately consumed by tension and Chelsea was given early hope.

Mateo Kovacic had been key in the build-up but it was Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s quick pass into Werner that caught Madrid cold, the German steering the ball with his knee into the path of Mount, who advanced and fired past Thibaut Courtois.

For 20 minutes, Chelsea were dictating, Madrid pegged back. Reece James was doing a fine job restricting Vinicius Junior, blocking Madrid’s escape route.

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