The best Benzema ever

Real Madrid shoots up for the League after his triumph in San Mamés, with which close the first round (Only the Whites and Athletic have already played 19 games, in advance of the imminent Spanish Super Cup in January) with no less than 46 points, 8 over Sevilla, 13 over Betis, 16 more than Rayo and ahead in no less than 17 to Atleti and 18 to Barcelona. Madrid has the League in his hand, only whites can lose it and if they have reached this moment in such an enviable position it is, to a great extent, thanks to the wearer of number 9: Karim Benzema. In San Mamés, He did his thing again, scoring a double in just four minutes.

The front French made the two goals of the madridista triumph on Athletic (1-2); the first, at minute 3, of enormous whiplash from a corner of the frontal, looking for and finding the environs of the left square of Agirrezabala; and the second, in the 7 ‘, taking advantage of a error of the red-and-white rear and defining with pause, rasita and next to the post. Sancet He gave uncertainty to the thing in the 10th minute with another great goal, but Madrid withstood the attacks from Bilbao and took the points, while Benzema up his particular account in League to 15 goals.

Benzema, headed for 30 goals

The accounts are simple: yes in a round of 19 games has marked the french 15 goals, is projecting end the season with 30 targets, a brand that has never reached the Lyon striker, not even remotely. His best league season at Madrid was 2015-16, under the command of Rafa Benítez first and Zidane later: he reached 24 points. Last year, 2020-21, it was 23, although they did not serve Madrid to take the title.

Benzema has been a recurring good scorer in League: has equaled or exceeded 20 goals up to five times in Madrid, and another one in France with Olympique de Lyon. But he was never so determined to fight to reach and exceed 30 goals. To his 15 goals in the League, it is necessary to add another 5 in the Champions League for a total of 20 in the course, which he accompanies with 8 assists. He has participated in 28 targets over 1,912 minutes; dial or attend once every 68 ‘…

With these numbers, normal that you walk fully in the fight for the Golden Boot, the trophy that distinguishes the best scorer in European football every year. Right now, lead the fight for the trophy Ohi Omoijuanfo, of the mold, with 40’5 points thanks to his 27 goals (in the Norwegian league, each goal is valued at 1.5 points; the goals in the five major leagues of the Old Continent add up to two points); they follow him Olsen, from Lillestrom, also from the Norwegian league, with 39 points (26 goals) and Lewandowski, with 38 points thanks to his 19 goals at Bayern. The Polish, current Golden Boot, will be the great rival for the trophy, for which Vlahovic, from Fiorentina (32 points), Schick, from Leverkusen (32 points); or Salah, from Liverpool, with 30 points, the same as Benzema right now.

The precedents, furthermore, they are optimistic so that Benzema can not only maintain the scoring level in the second round of the League, but also even improve it: in recent seasons it practically doubled its records in the second half of the Spanish domestic course. Thus, in 2018-19 he scored 7 goals in the first round and 14 in the second; In 2019-20 he was better at the beginning (12 goals) than at the end (9), although without major differences; and in 2020-21 it got better again with the turn of the year, scoring 8 goals in the first round and 15 in the second. With a Madrid launched for the League and in positive inertia, in addition to the offensive joy that Carlo Ancelotti has brought with him, Benzema can dream of fighting the award against Lewandowski.

Benzema is “player, captain, strong, humble … top, top”

San Mamés recognized Benzema for his essential participation in the triumph over Athletic with a heartfelt applause when he left the field in the final minutes. Ancelotti spared no praise, neither for the stadium, nor for his player: “The ovation to Karim was fantastic, this stadium has a spectacular atmosphere, I really like it. And Karim has deserved it. Go forward, go captain. Great player, great man, with a strong but humble personality … He’s a top, top person “.

To their just met 34 years old, Benzema is going through his maturity as the spearhead of this Madrid that is sweeping Spain and threatens PSG in Europe. At this rate, several awards await him on the way to the white ‘9’: the League, perhaps the Champions League, a Golden Boot … and that Ballon d’Or for which he already fought hard in the last edition (he finished fourth) and what do you want before closing his career and giving up the baton in Madrid his friend Kylian Mbappé.