Hat trick in 17 minutes
But then came Benzema. The three goals stand for everything that makes him special. There is the slyness, the quick thinking, the fine technique, the mastery of the penalty area, the power of the shot and the unconditional will. It was a spectacular performance.
Benzema needed just 17 minutes for his hat-trick. In the 61st minute he pushed PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma so hard after a back pass that he unluckily played the ball to Vinícius Júnior. He brought him back to Benzema and it was 1-1.
Alaba: “Incredible qualities”
In the 76th minute he received the ball in the penalty area from Luka Modrić and immediately took aim with the right. Immediately after the restart (78th) the next goal: After a lightning-fast attack, PSG defense chief Marquinhos played the ball to Benzema in an unfortunate attempt to clear the ball, who immediately pulled away at full speed. Paris could not recover from it. After losing 1-0 in the first leg, Madrid went one round.
“I think he just showed again how important he is for us. The qualities he brings with him are just unbelievable.”, said Real defender David Alaba. There was also great praise from France: “Beaten by the King”writes the newspaper “L’Equipe” to the defeat in Paris.
Congenial interaction with Modric
Speaking of Modric. Benzema scored the goals, but the Croatian started the Madrilenians’ game. After replacing Toni Kroos, who started the game ailing, he took over the direction. His preparatory work to make it 1-1 was unbelievably good. Modric, who is already 36 years old, conquered the leather on his own sixteen, left four Parisians standing, sent Vinícius Júnior into the lead, followed up, got the ball back and then put it brilliantly on Benzema.
Stepped out of Ronaldo’s shadow
Benzema has played for Real Madrid since 2009. For many years he ran there somehow on the side. He was always overshadowed by Cristiano Ronaldo. It wasn’t until he left the club in 2018 that Benzema blossomed. He seems to be in the form of his life right now. He has already scored 30 goals in 33 competitive games this season. And even if Alfredo Di Stéfano will probably always be the measure of all things, Benzema knitted properly on his actual legend on Wednesday.