The resurrection of Benzema and Courtois

If Real Madrid were crowned kings of Europe last season against the odds, it was because they had the best goalkeeper in the world and enjoyed the efficiency of a striker in a state of grace. Thibaut Courtois spread under the sticks and up top Karin Benzema earned the Ballon d’Or with 15 goals in the tournament: five in the group stage; a hat trick in the round of 16 in the second leg against PSG, four in the quarter-finals against Chelsea (a hat-trick in the first leg and a decisive one in extra time in the second leg) and three in the semi-final against Manchester City (two in England and a decisive 3-1 at the Bernabéu).

Everything was different in this campaign. Neither Courtois nor Benzema were decisive and Real Madrid turned to Vinicius as the only element to be accepted on the way to victory. Everything depended on the Brazilian. There was no other recipe. The Belgian was dealing with injuries in the first part of the season and barely managed to keep a goal (only 8 in the first 29 games of the season). With singing included in the duel at Anfield in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League. But if the Bree giant wasn’t up to the task, it was even worse for the French striker, disappearing into the infirmary and banshee every time he took to the green. Neither of them gave in. And they were hardly expected anymore.

But the decisive phase of the season arrived and both of them were resurrected. Benzema showed his paw ten days ago by scoring a hat-trick against Valladolid, and three days later he repeated the hat-trick against Barcelona in his return to the Copa del Rey. Against Chelsea, he was once again decisive, polishing off his brilliant link-up with Vinicius to make it 1-0. The Frenchman has 90 goals in the Champions League in his career and is only one away from entering the historic podium. Only Messi, Cristiano and Lewandowski managed to reach this figure.

His idyll against English teams is worth studying. He scored the last 11 European goals against teams from the Premier League. Chelsea have already collected six balls from their goal in their last three qualifying games played (one in 2020-21, four in 2021-22 and one in the present), and there is still a fightback.

Courtois’ key save

And more than that in another area. If Benzema starts to be lethal in attack (7 goals in the last four games played), Courtois also restarts his team in his own. In the Cup classic, he cheered on the Whites when Barcelona could have taken the lead. In the 45th minute, at 0-0 electronically, he made a great save, which ended in a goal.

Something similar happened against Chelsea. He saved two in the first half. First of all, that action immediately after Benzema’s goal. Camavinga missed James, who crossed, and the Belgian hit Sterling brilliantly. Another one of those playoff-changing stops.

Thibout and Karim. Courtois and Benzema. Two men who are winning games again for Real Madrid.