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Karim Benzema silences stunned Etihad with fans in awe of outrageous Panenka penalty

Real Madrid captain Karim Benzema showed nerves of steel to salvage a 4-3 first-leg defeat against Manchester City in the Champions League with a stunning Panenka penalty

Karim Benzema stunned the home crowd with a majestic Panenka penalty
Karim Benzema stunned the home crowd by scoring a majestic Panenka penalty

Real Madrid superstar Karim Benzema left fans inside the Etihad Stadium speechless as he scored a Panenka penalty in the dying minutes of a Champions League semi-final game.


With his side two goals down away from home, the Los Blancos skipper stepped up to take the spot-kick after a hand-ball by Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte.


But the French striker, having already scored a stunning volley in the first-half, was nerveless with his strike. With the clock ticking in the 82nd minute and the crowd booing, Benzema calmly Panenka-chipped the ball right into the centre of the goal.


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One fan on Twitter wrote: "To have the bottle to do that at 4-2 is absolutely sensational what a player man."

Another fan added: "Absolutely incredible bottle that from Karim under the pressure. Nearly the whole crowd booing."

A third tweeted: "What a cheeky penalty from Benzema to be fair he is the best striker in the world right now."

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Karim Benzema showed unbelievable calmness to pull off his penalty
Karim Benzema showed unbelievable calmness to pull off his penalty

Others questioned City goalkeeper Ederson, who appeared to dive slightly early to his left, freeing up the middle for Benzema's cheeky chip.


A Twitter user wrote: "I suppose you could say Ederson committed very early but that's still ice cold under extreme pressure."

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Thanks to their talisman's brilliance once again when it mattered most, Real Madrid now head to the second leg just one goal down on aggregate. A victory by two or more goals at the Santiago Bernabeu will ensure their place in the final and an opportunity to win their record-extending 14th Champions League title.

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READ MORE: Man City fan loses job as chef after launching pie into crowd at Champions League gameREAD MORE: Three things Pep Guardiola got right and two he got wrong as Man City beat Real Madrid
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