Top scorer Benzema is a striker who misses Manchester City

Many eyes are on Karim Benzema during Tuesday’s first game between Manchester City and Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Champions League. The Spaniards striker had a major role in the elimination of Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. Can he also floor the English champion?

Benzema scored three times in the eighth final against PSG (3-1), perhaps the favorite for the most important European prize beforehand. On a visit to Chelsea in the quarterfinals, he again scored three times (1-3). As if that wasn’t enough, he also made a crucial goal in the home game with the defending champion from England (2-3).

Modesty graces the 34-year-old Frenchman if you ask him to describe his value to the current La Liga frontrunner. “Real has always won, even without me,” he said last week. He then emphasized the role of Luka Modric, the architect of the most beautiful passes. Benzema also doesn’t know what to do if declarant Vinícius Júnior was missing on the flanks.

Real striker

Benzema has been of great value to Real since 2009, but it was only after the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo that that really started to stand out. Real strikers of the Benzema caliber are scarce, as Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola knows. It was not for nothing that he did everything in vain to get Harry Kane last summer. And for the coming season in Borussia Dortmund’s Norwegian super striker Erling Haaland target number 1.

City have almost everything but a striker since Sergio Aguero left last year. Kevin de Bruyne, Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish all know how to score, but their best position is not the center of the attack. Perhaps it is also telling for City that João Cancelo is the player who has most goals on behalf of City in the Premier League this season. He is the right back of Guardiola’s squad.

Gabriel Jesus may be City’s striker in the home game against Real, due to his four goals against Watford on Saturday. But in the first 32 league matches of this season, the Brazilian has only scored three times. City seem to be favorites together with Liverpool for the win of the Champions League. But for a place in the final battle it will first have to prevent a new star role from Benzema. The Frenchman is a real striker, although his trainer Carlo Ancelotti does not agree. “You do him short. He is much more complete than just a striker. He is a leader and a team player. He works hard and also builds attacks.”