In the early morning of May 5, Beijing time, in the second leg of the 2021-22 Champions League semi-final, Real Madrid defeated Manchester City 2:1 at home, the total score was 5:5 draw, into extra time, with Benzema's penalty, Real Madrid eliminated Manchester City 6:5 on aggregate to reach the final.
At the beginning of the season, I am afraid that not many people will regard Real Madrid as a big favorite to win the title. But few people would have thought that the older and more demon-like Benzema would be so strong.
In the quarter-final draw, UEFA drew twice, and Real Madrid's final opponent was Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. Some people say that this is "targeted" by UEFA, and the three families of Huang Savin and UEFA sing against each other to engage in the European Super League. But there is no basis for this statement, in the Champions League, Bayern, Manchester City, Liverpool will not necessarily be inferior to the greater Paris.
In the first leg of the quarter-finals, away to Paris, Real Madrid was at a disadvantage and lost 0:1. In the second leg at the Bernabeu, another goal was conceded, but then Benzema scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid eliminated Paris Grande to reach the quarter-finals.
In the quarter-finals, Real Madrid's opponent is the defending champions Chelsea. Tuchel's side are not easy to deal with, but chelsea, which have been sanctioned, are already in a volatile and volatile situation. In the first leg of the away game, with Benzema's hat-trick, Real Madrid beat Chelsea 3:1 to take advantage of the promotion. In the second leg at the Bernabeu, Chelsea played a tenacious and indomitable style, with Mount scoring one goal in the first half and another goal in the second half, equalizing the aggregate score, and the pressure came to Real Madrid. In the 75th minute, Werner scored a goal to make the total score 4:3, and if the score ended, Real Madrid would be overturned. In the 80th minute, Rodrigo, who came on as a substitute, scored a goal to win the match point, without which Benzema would not have had the chance to kill in extra time.
In the semi-finals, Real Madrid's opponent is the championship favourite Manchester City, the first leg of the away game, was scored by Manchester City four, if it were not for Manchester City's lack of top scorers and Courtois's brave saves, Real Madrid would have conceded seven or eight goals. Real Madrid did not go all out like the first leg of the quarter-final away to Paris, with Benzema, Vinicius and Rodrigo forming an attacking trident, Benzema scoring one goal, Vinicius scoring another goal, and finally Benzema scoring a penalty twice, and finally losing 3:4 to Manchester City.
Back at home, Real Madrid must attack, to qualify must beat Manchester City, in the first half, Manchester City attacked dominant, Real Madrid's attack did not improve, relying on Courtois's bravery did not concede the ball, but the draw is meaningless. In the 73rd minute of the second half, Real Madrid conceded the ball first, and the situation was more pessimistic than when they played chelsea at home in the second leg of the quarter-finals. Rodrigo, who came off the bench, came into play, equalizing in the 90th minute and completing the reversal in the 92nd minute. Similarly, without Rodrigo's goal, Benzema would not have had the chance to kill in extra time.
The young Rodrigo, reminiscent of Zidane's first time in charge of Real Madrid, is not a regular starter, but the substitute appearance can always make a miracle. Of course, Real Madrid have won twice in overtime, and the terminator is Benzema.
With benzema's toughness and the progress of Vinicius and Rodrigo's Brazilian double stars, even if Mbappe or Haaland fail to bring in mbappe or Haaland this summer, Real Madrid will still be competitive enough next season.