This is the umpteenth page of a book where everything has already been told.
On Saturday, Real Madrid relied on Karim Benzema to extricate himself from the trap set by Elche (2-1) during the 27th day of La Liga.
Casa Blanca, down 1-0 on the hour mark, saw their French center-forward score two goals late in the game, including a superb left-footed volley at the entrance to the box in added time .
"Benzema wants La Liga", headlined the Madrid daily
Marca
the day after the Merengue victory.
Despite his 33 years, Benzema has never seemed so indispensable to Real.
With 15 goals in 23 matches, the former Lyonnais is on time to equal his total of the last two seasons (21 goals).
Only Luis Suarez (Atlético, 18) and Lionel Messi (Barcelona, 19) have scored more than him in the league.
The legend of Karim Benzema at Real Madrid
“It is special, applauded Zinédine Zidane last week, after a draw at the leader, Atlético de Madrid (1-1) where Benzema had equalized at the end of the match.
For me, for people who love football, it's a joy to see him at Real Madrid.
(…) He's a player that everyone admires. ”
Despite rumors that evoke a return to OL next season, Benzema, in Madrid since 2009, remains focused on Real, where he often inherits the captain's armband due to his seniority.
Proof of his reluctance, 4 of Real's 5 goals in added time in La Liga this season were signed Benzema.
At Matchday 11, Real, defending champions, are still six points behind Atlético, and only one point ahead of Barça ... who are one game behind.
"The most important thing was to win the 3 points to stay in the battle for the title", soberly summed up Zinédine Zidane after the painful victory against Elche.
But the superhero Benzema does not have time to breathe: his savior cape could again be used this Tuesday against Atalanta, in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Real won the first leg in Italy (0-1), but its fragility is well established this season.
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Benzema pulls off a narrow success, Real still believes in it