Lewandowski on his heels
Karim Benzema does not let up. The Real Madrid forward is rattling from all-time highs in goals and may still be targeting a record set by Cristiano Ronaldo: most goals in a Champions League season. The 34-year-old has climbed into the top 5 of the rankings with his brace in Real’s 4-3 defeat at Manchester City.
Benzema climbs to 5th place: Most goals in a Champions League season
16 Raúl – Real Madrid – 99/00 – 10 goals (in 15 games)
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As of April 26, 2022
16 Ruud van Nistelrooy – Manchester United – 01/02 – 10 goals (in 14 games)
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16 Filippo Inzaghi – AC Milan – 02/03 – 10 goals (in 14 games)
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16 Rivaldo – FC Barcelona – 99/00 – 10 goals (in 14 games)
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16 Lionel Messi – Barcelona – 14/15 – 10 goals (in 13 games)
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16 Kaká – AC Milan – 06/07 – 10 goals (in 13 games)
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16 Robert Lewandowski – Borussia Dortmund – 12/13 – 10 goals (in 13 games)
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16 Mohamed Salah – Liverpool – 17/18 – 10 goals (in 13 games)
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16 Roberto Firmino – Liverpool FC – 17/18 – 10 goals (in 13 games)
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16 Jardel – FC Porto – 99/00 – 10 goals (in 13 games)
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16 Cristiano Ronaldo – Real Madrid – 14/15 – 10 goals (in 12 games)
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16 Neymar – Barcelona – 14/15 – 10 goals (in 12 games)
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16 Sadio Mané – Liverpool FC – 17/18 – 10 goals (in 11 games)
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16 Cristiano Ronaldo – Real Madrid – 11/12 – 10 goals (in 10 games)
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16 Alessandro Del Piero – Juventus – 97/98 – 10 goals (in 10 games)
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16 Erling Haaland – Borussia Dortmund – 10 goals (in 8 games)
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16 Zlatan Ibrahimovic – PSG – 13/14 – 10 goals (in 8 games)
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16 Erling Haaland – Borussia Dortmund/Salzburg – 19/20 – 10 goals (in 8 games)
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14 Lionel Messi – Barcelona – 16/17 – 11 goals (in 9 games)
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14 Sébastien Haller – Ajax Amsterdam – 21/22 – 11 goals (in 8 games)
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8 Cristiano Ronaldo – Real Madrid – 16/17 – 12 goals (in 13 games)
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8 Lionel Messi – Barcelona – 10/11 – 12 goals (in 13 games)
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8 Cristiano Ronaldo – Real Madrid – 12/13 – 12 goals (in 12 games)
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8 Mario Gómez – Bayern Munich – 11/12 – 12 goals (in 12 games)
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8 Lionel Messi – Barcelona – 18/19 – 12 goals (in 10 games)
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8 Ruud van Nistelrooy – Manchester United – 02/03 – 12 goals (in 9 games)
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7 Robert Lewandowski – Bayern Munich – 21/22 – 13 goals (in 10 games)
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5 Lionel Messi – Barcelona – 11/12 – 14 goals (in 11 games)
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5 Karim Benzema – Real Madrid – 21/22 – 14 goals (after 10 games so far)
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3 Cristiano Ronaldo – Real Madrid – 17/18 – 15 goals (in 13 games)
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3 Robert Lewandowski – Bayern Munich – 19/20 – 15 goals (in 9 games)
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2 Cristiano Ronaldo – Real Madrid – 15/16 – 16 goals (in 12 games)
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1 Cristiano Ronaldo – Real Madrid – 13/14 – 17 goals (in 11 games)
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With a hand penalty converted in the Panenka style and the goal in the meantime to make it 1: 2, the star striker Real Madrid at least kept the chance of entering the final of the “premier class” within the realm of possibility on Tuesday evening despite the bankruptcy at City. Just lobbed into the middle of the goal and his team-mates raved about the Frenchman again. “It’s unbelievable what he’s playing this season. We are very, very happy that he is with us,” said defender David Alaba (29) in the streaming service “Amazon Prime Video” (quoted via dpa).
After his hat-trick in the round of 16 against Paris Saint-Germain and his four goals against defending champions FC Chelsea, Benzema was once again the match winner in his 600th game for Real, but also set a clear scent in the further focus: 41 competitive goals for Real Madrid in one season – nobody has managed that since Ronaldo 2017/18.
Benzema has Champions League goal record in sight – “Going well”
With nine goals in the knockout games of this Champions League season, the world champion is almost single-handedly responsible for Real being able to reach the final of the “premier class” for the first time since 2018. Benzema has scored 14 goals so far. Ronaldo holds the record in a CL season with 17 goals (season 2013/14). In addition to two more Ronaldo seasons, only Robert Lewandowski (33) is ahead of Benzema, who netted a total of 15 times for FC Bayern in 2019/20, so the pursuer could already be intercepted with just one goal in the second leg of the semifinals .
Meanwhile, Benzema said about the nonchalance of his converted penalty in the evening: “I always have in mind that you can never miss a penalty if you never play. It’s all mental. I have a lot of confidence… so I do it and it’s going well.”
Real Madrid are now banking on the second leg on Wednesday next week. “The most important thing is that we never gave up and we are there to the end. Now we’re going to the Bernabéu where we need our fans more than ever and we’re going to do something magical – win,” Benzema announced.
Benzema storms to the top: Best Champions League Goalscorers 2021/22
Lionel Messi | PSG | 5 goals in 7 games
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As of April 26, 2022
Roberto Firmino | Liverpool | 5 goals in 6 games
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Darwin Nunez | Benfica | 6 goals in 10 games
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Arnaut Danjuma | Villareal | 6 goals in 10 games
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Riyadh Mahrez | Man City | 6 goals in 11 games
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Leroy Sané | Bayern Munich | 6 goals in 10 games
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Kylian Mbappe | PSG | 6 goals in 8 games
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Cristiano Ronaldo | United | 6 goals in 7 games
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Christopher Nkunku | RB Leipzig | 7 goals in 6 games
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Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | 8 goals in 10 games
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Sebastien Haller | Ajax Amsterdam | 11 goals in 8 games
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Robert Lewandowski | Bayern Munich | 13 goals in 10 games
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