Benzema “Hits The Switch” As Madrid Prepares For Match Against Chelsea

Karim Benzema’s stunning hat-trick against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey last week served two purposes.

As the season comes to a close, the striker made a bold declaration of intent by eliminating Real Madrid’s fiercest rivals from the Spanish Cup at Camp Nou.

The first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal between Los Blancos and Chelsea will take place on Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabeu, and the Blues will be on high alert in an effort to contain the unstoppable Benzema.

Madrid has exploded into life recently, scoring 12 goals in their previous three games, including the 4-0 romp over Barcelona, as they look to capture the title for the sixth time in ten seasons.

They suffered a 3-2 defeat on Saturday in La Liga against Villarreal, but coach Carlo Ancelotti made six changes from the side that beat Barcelona to keep the likes of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric fresh to face Chelsea.

Before to that, Benzema scored back-to-back hat-tricks against Real Valladolid and Barcelona. Like Madrid, he is at his best under pressure.

After the Clasico victory, Ancelotti observed, “He’s hit the switch.”

He has benefited from working over the international break and is in good enough shape to make an impact.

The Italian compared his group to a boiler that operates at the ideal temperature when needed.
At the beginning of March, Ancelotti issued a warning: “The temperature of the boiler goes up when the team is near to a title.”

Ancelotti fired up the boiler once again following Madrid’s 4-0 victory at Camp Nou, which advanced Madrid to the Copa del Rey final for the first time since 2014.

“The boiler has returned to the right temperature at the most important moment of the season,” he said.

This season, enzema’s individual performance has varied, ranging from excellent moments to extended absences due to injuries.

The 35-year-old Frenchman missed the World Cup after suffering a thigh injury, missing a significant portion of October and November.

In the Champions League group stages, Benzema was held without a goal, but he scored three goals against Liverpool in the round of 16 matchup over the course of both legs.

In the Bernabeu, Thomas Tuchel’s team put up a fight, but the hosts forced extra time, and Benzema scored emphatically in the 96th minute after Antonio Rudiger, who is now a Madrid player, slipped.

Benzema and Madrid continued to advance, as they so frequently do, despite Chelsea’s best attempts in a 3-2 victory. It was an exciting night of European football.

Madrid went on to lift the trophy by beating Liverpool in the final in Paris. Now their sights are set on Istanbul. Chelsea are familiar with the damage that the striker can do, with the striker netting a hat-trick last season at Stamford Bridge against the Blues in the quarter-finals in a 3-1 first leg win.

The fact that it was difficult for us to maintain a high level of motivation is perfectly natural, remarked Ancelotti following Madrid’s La League setback on Saturday.

Before the hour mark, with his team leading Villarreal 2-1, the coach replaced Benzema, resting the striker in preparation for Chelsea’s arrival.

Madrid eventually lost, and their talisman could only watch from the sidelines.

Ancelotti continued his metaphor after the game, “The temperature of the boiler went down a little today.

But by Wednesday, we’ll be completely exhausted.

AFP