Karim Benzema practiced Panenka penalty in Real Madrid training before Man City goal

Karim Benzema's Real Madrid team-mates knew what the superstar striker was going to do before he nailed a stunning Panenka penalty against Manchester City in the Champions League

Rhys Daly Senior Sports Reporter

18:39, 27 Apr 2022

Karim Benzema of Real Madrid scores his side's third goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final Leg One match between Manchester City and Real Madrid at City of Manchester Stadium on April 26, 2022 in Manchester, England.

Karim Benzema of Real Madrid scored his side's third goal from the penalty spot with a Panenka(Image: Getty Images)

The entire Real Madrid bench knew exactly what Karim Benzema was about to do before he bamboozled Manchester City stopper Ederson with a perfect Panenka penalty in their Champions League semi-final first-leg.

The France international striker is in the form of his life at the age of 34 having smashed home 41 goals from 41 fixtures so far this season - which is his best ever professional return having scored 30 last time out.

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That form has flourished alongside a new-found confidence that led to the striker succeeding in scoring a sublime Panenka penalty - that he had been practising in training.

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"He was doing these in training," Real Madrid and Brazil forward Rodrygo said after the fixture.

"And the people who were on the bench already knew that he was going to do it.”

Benzema is currently leading the race to win the 2022 Ballon d'Or thanks to his goalscoring form, with Carlo Ancelotti's men set to win La Liga back from Atletico Madrid.

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MADRID, SPAIN - AUGUST 12: Karim Benzema and Andriy Lunin both of Real Madrid are training at Valdebebas training ground on August 12, 2021 in Madrid, Spain.

Rodrygo said after the game that Karim Benzema (here in 2021) has practised Panenka penalties in training(Image: Getty Images)

Karim Benzema of Real Madrid shooting penalty and score his second goal during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final Leg One match between Manchester City and Real Madrid at City of Manchester Stadium on April 26, 2022 in Manchester, United Kingdom.

Manchester City stopper Ederson had dived before the ball was in the air(Image: Getty Images)

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Benzema had said: "I always get it into my head that if you don’t take the penalty, you don’t miss the penalty. I have a lot of confidence in myself, I do it and it’s fine."

Ancelotti also spoke about the spot-kick which was the final goal of the 4-3 thriller, with Benzema scoring an earlier goal before Vinicius Jr's solo effort.

He said that Benzema in fact changed his decision because City players thought they knew where the rebound would go had Ederson made a save.

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Karim Benzema of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final Leg One match between Manchester City and Real Madrid at City of Manchester Stadium on April 26, 2022 in Manchester, United Kingdom.

Karim Benzema scored his 40th and 41st goals of the season this week(Image: Getty Images)

The former Everton boss said: "We have never thought about changing the one who is going to take the penalties, we have all the confidence.

"He has changed because now they are waiting for him on the right and he has put him in the centre of the goal.

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"Everything is fine, what can I say. We are waiting for the Bernabeu, the magic of the Bernabeu.

"For us, we came out of this first game with a result that is not good, because we have conceded four goals we have not defended well."