Real Madrid’s evening could have been perfect, but Karim Benzema’s injury tarnished the good result. The club still ideally launched the defense of its title of European champion by dominating Celtic Glasgow (3-0), Tuesday, for the first day of the Champions League.
The recent UEFA Best Player of the Year looks like he injured his right knee on his own in the 26th minute. After trying for a few minutes to continue, doing some bending exercises during stoppage time, Benzema finally threw in the towel, replaced in the 30th minute by Eden Hazard.
Ancelotti reassuring on KB9
After the match, however, coach Carlo Ancelotti didn’t seem overly concerned, although further examinations will be needed to assess the injury and any resulting unavailability. “It doesn’t seem to be anything to worry about, but we will have to wait for tomorrow’s exams” to be sure, he said at a post-match press conference. “According to the first assessment, it does not seem to be serious but we have to wait until tomorrow,” he insisted.
A long absence from Benzema would be a real blow for Madrid who would lose the great architect of their 35th national title and their 14th European coronation last May, with 44 goals in 46 games. Favorite to win, at 34, his first Ballon d’Or, in mid-October, and especially two and a half months before the start of the World Cup in Qatar, the seriousness of his injury will be scrutinized with anguish both in Madrid and in France. .
Despite this, Real were able to turn their backs without suffering against the valiant Scots who found the C1 for the first time since the 2017/2018 season. In the beautiful atmosphere of Celtic Park, which was still singing loudly in the 90th minute, despite the score, the “Bhoys” boldly played their luck, even touching wood on a strong strike from outside captain Callum McGregor who shook the cage for a long time (21st). They held out for 50 minutes, again seeing Daizen Maeda miss his recovery 6 meters from goal, in the 47th, before giving in to the Spaniards’ job.
Hazard’s Good Night
The Merengue had already come close to opening the scoring by Vinicius Jr who lost his face-to-face with Joe Hart (40th) two minutes after Hazard had also missed a seemingly easy recovery from six meters (40th). But that was only postponed. On a good ball out to break the audacious pressing of the opponent, Federico Valverde spun on the right and saw “Vini” tumble on the left. The Uruguayan sent a perfect offering between the goalkeeper and the last defender that Vinicius Jr only had to convert with a flat foot (0-1, 56th). Four minutes later, it was Luka Modric who had fun in the opposing box before hitting from the outside, Hart only being able to deflect the ball into his side net (0-2, 60th).
The evening ended on an even more positive note for Real when Hazard, already the decisive passer on the second goal, scored for the first time since November 2020 in the Champions League (0-3, 76th). After several seasons marred by injuries, the Belgian had to savor this moment at its true value. A success guaranteed “in the job” by Real who showed that, this season again, they will have to be reckoned with for the final victory, despite the shadow left by the exit of Benzema.