Benzema achieves legendary all-time total


Thursday, May 12, 2022 at 11:19 PM• Jeroen van Poppel

Real Madrid gave the Santiago Bernabeu a wonderful evening on Thursday evening. Carlo Ancelotti’s team played one of its best matches of the season against last-placed Levante, which also led to its biggest win of the year: 6-0. Karim Benzema scored his 323rd goal for Real Madrid and is level with Raul. Only Cristiano Ronaldo (451 goals) has more. Man of the match was Vinícius Júnior, who was responsible for half of the production.

For Real, the last Spanish duels are all about preparation for the Champions League final, on May 28 against Liverpool. Ancelotti gave Casemiro and Toni Kroos a rest, but the other well-known names appeared at the kick-off. Also Luka Modric, who launched Ferland Mendy from his own half in a wonderful way after thirteen minutes. The left back was able to continue like this and finished it in a controlled manner: 1-0.

Real stormed into Levante’s goal in the opening phase, which was completely overwhelmed. Federico Valverde hit the post, moments later Vinícius Júnior gave a beautiful, tight cross to Karim Benzema, who headed in impeccably: 2-0 after twenty minutes. Real went on and easily combined to 3-0 via Rodrygo, who alertly put his foot against a low cross from Modric. The Croat was also at the basis of the 4-0 a minute before half-time, by serving Vinícius with a wonderful cross ball. The Brazilian was able to go into the box from the left and finished it off nicely.

After the gala show from the first half, Real visibly slowed down in the last 45 minutes. Levante therefore had the opportunity to look for Thibaut Courtois’ goal here and there, including via a dangerous shot by Pepelu, which went just over. Fifteen minutes before the end, José Luis Morales wasted the chance for an honorary goal by aiming wide from close range. At that time, Real had already scored its fifth goal on the scoreboard. Modric sent another brilliant pass, this time to Benzema, who cleared the keeper with a striking dance to pass the ball. After a pass to the side, Vinícius was able to tap in: 5-0. The Brazilian managed to complete his hat-trick in the 83rd minute by dragging the ball around his opponent after losing the ball and poking it into the short corner: 6-0.