Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has sent a message to Manchester City after the Spanish giants their 35th La Liga title on Saturday.
The French striker was a late substitute in the victory that sealed the title – a four-goal home victory over Espanyol – and netted his 42nd goal of the campaign. The celebrations went long into the evening in the Spanish capital as the players and management of Los Blancos savoured the triumph with their fanbase.
Yet despite tasting the success and enjoying the victory throughout Saturday, it was clear that Carlo Ancelotti’s side remain fully focused on the Champions League semi-final second leg against the Premier League champions and league leaders on Wednesday.
City edged out Los Blancos in Manchester last week in a seven-goal thriller in which Benzema netted twice to ensure that the tie hangs in the balance ahead of the return game at the Santiago Bernabeu this coming week. Madrid remain hopeful of adding further European glory to their domestic title from this campaign.
Benzema remains crucial to any of those hopes and after being used only as a substitute in Saturday’s league victory over Espanyol, the Frenchman is expected to return to the starting line-up for Ancelotti’s side against City – where he is set to lead the line once again.
After Saturday’s triumph, Benzema posted on his social media account: “Another trophy for the best club in the world.” Alongside the image of a trophy and the number 35. He then goes on to add “Congrats to the team for the hard work this season and to the fans for the support… We still have other goals! #HalaMadrid #CAMPEON35 #Alhamdulilah”
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Rodrygo Goes bagged a first half double for Real Madrid against Espanyol on Saturday to put them on course to a comfortable victory to seal the title as Marco Asensio and second half substitute Benzema found the net in the second half. It was enough to secure the league title for Ancelotti’s side with four rounds of action remaining in La Liga – and allows them to focus their efforts on the Champions League.
As is tradition at Los Blancos, any title success is celebrated at the Plaza de Cibeles in the city to allow large masses of fans to celebrate the triumph with their heroes. As planned, the team bus left the Santiago Bernabeu to make its journey to the central destination in the Spanish capital which was lined with fans of the club who were rejoicing in the celebrations.
