CF Karim Benzema
I made a harsh call of not including the Frenchman in the list of players who would be decisive against Valencia. Karim Benzema was riding on his worst performance since Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from Madrid. He had a night to forget against Getafe, providing no threat whatsoever to their goal. Contrastingly, he had a night to remember against Valencia.
The Frenchman signalled his return to form with a brace. He just loves scoring against the Bats. Another team he loves scoring against is Barcelona. Benzema scored a magical goal in 2020-21’s second Clasico of the league but he couldn’t get one at Camp Nou this season. He’d be looking to change that by scoring one (or more) in Saudi Arabia against the Catalans.
This is a big game and Karim Benzema’s inclusion in this list was a given. Pick up the archives of the last couple of season’s decisive games, his name in the column of key performers for Los Blancos would be a constant. He has been at it this season with greater consistency. He scored against Los Rojiblancos in the recent Madrid Derbi with a brilliant volley. The Frenchman also inspired a victory with a brace away at San Mames, scored the lone winner in the reverse fixture played earlier and, pounced on to a mishandled Eder Militao shot to equalize against Sevilla.
Benzema has been Real Madrid’s key man against tougher oppositions. And, he’d once again be expected to guide his younger partners in this crucial match that can end up being Real’s ticket to the season’s first final. I believe, he’d once again come up with the goods for Real Madrid and take his side to the final of the Spanish Cup.