Real Madrid: Top 5 performances from 4-2 win over Granada
CF Karim Benzema
It took just two minutes for Karim Benzema to find the back of the net. He settled a wonderful outside-the-boot pass from left-footed right winger Gareth Bale, beating Rui Silva by using the pace of the initial ball to his advantage.
The goal was Benzema’s sixth of the season, and while it was his lone goal of the game, he did come close in the late stages from a counterattack involving substitute James Rodriguez.
Benzema’s goals have been vital to Real Madrid all season long, and this early strike set the tone for the rest of the game for Real’s offense.
In addition to his goals, Benzema is one of the best center forwards in the world at setting up teammates. He works tirelessly to roam around, picking up loose balls and firing dangerous crosses into the box.
He could have easily had an assist today, as he set up Dani Carvajal with one particularly sumptuous ball. Per WhoScored.com, the forward finished the game with two key passes and two shots on target.
This wasn’t Benzema’s most sensational individual performance of the season, but it was something of a trademark performance from him. He grabbed a goal, he set up his teammates, and he pressed and scrapped his way through the final third defensively to try and force the opposition into critical errors.