Benzema makes Real Madrid click — Zidane
MADRID: Real Madrid boss Zinedine ZIdane hai led the impact of Karim Benzema after his compatriot lifted the European champions from the early blow of conceding to beat Napoli 3-1 on Wednesday.
Madrid are now on the brink of a seventh successive Champions League quarter-final as they aim to become the first team to retain the trophy in the Champions League era.Lorenzo Insigne’s wonder strike from 40 yards after just eight minutes had given Napoli a shock lead at the Bernabeu.
However, Zidane was rewarded for keeping faith in Benzema despite fierce criticism of late from the Spanish press as he headed home his 51st Champions League goal to equalise before secondhalf strikes from Toni Kroos and Casemiro gave Madrid a commanding lead.
“I am always happy with him, said Zidane.
“He needed that goal which lately he didin’t get, but I am happy not only for the goal but also for how he played generally. He made the rest of the team play better and his movement is very good.“The performances of Karim, Cristiano ( Ronaldo), James ( Rodriguez) they all made the rest of the team better.”
Benzema’s goal also moved him ahead of compatriot Thierry Henry as top French scorer of alltime in the Champions League proper. “It was a great night. We al l played well, not just me,” Benzema told Spanish TV station MEGA. “I am very happy and proud of my work. There are a lot of sacrifices, but now I feel good. “I scored a goal and saw that the fans were with me which is very good for my confidence.” Napoli had chances to set up a mouthwatering second leg on March 7 as Dries Mertens blazed over with the goal at his mercy and former Madrid winger Jose Maria Callejon had a goal ruled out for offside late on. — AFP