Manchester City midfielder Rodri has warned his teammates of the threat of Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema ahead of their Champions League semi-final clash.
City will look to make the final of the competition for the second time in as many seasons this term, but standing in their way are a Real side who have won the competition a record 13 times, including in the 2013/14, 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons.
Pep Guardiola’s side will also be wary of French talisman striker Benzema, who has been in red hot form in all competitions this season, scoring 39 goals in 40 appearances in all competitions this season. That tally also includes 12 goals in nine Champions League appearances, with hat-tricks in knockout round victories over both Paris-Saint Germain and Chelsea.
Rodri has been speaking about the threats posed by Real and star man Benzema ahead of the first leg tie, taking place on Tuesday, admitting that Benzema’s form this season is a concern.
“He is in the best moment of his career,” Rodri said in the aftermath of City’s 5-1 Premier League win over Watford. “He understands every part of the game and is scoring goals, important goals.
“I would say f****** hell, this guy is amazing in every game and he not only scores goals but makes his team feel comfortable with the ball and as Ancelotti says he is the modern striker in football so we have to be aware of him and all of Real Madrid. I played against him for a few years and he is a great player but not only him, in terms of quality they always have that.”
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The two sides met in the round of 16 of this competition in the 2019/20 season. However, there was a break of almost six months between the two legs due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In the first leg in February 2020, Gabriel Jesus and Kevin De Bruyne were on the scoresheet in a 2-1 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu. When they eventually played the second leg in August that year, City again won 2-1 with Raheem Sterling and Jesus scoring that day.
While City have never won the competition, Guardiola has lifted the trophy twice as a manager. In the 2008/09 and 2010/11 seasons while in charge of Barcelona, Guardiola oversaw final wins over Manchester United to clinch the trophy on both occasions.
In the Premier League, City currently top the table by a point with just five games remaining. Both them and title rivals Liverpool are in the last four of this season’s Champions League.
Liverpool, who beat Tottenham Hotspur in the 2018/19 final of the Champions League, face Spanish side Villarreal for a place in the final, with the first leg of that tie taking place on Wednesday.
City’s final five matches in their Premier League campaign come against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leeds United, Newcastle United, West Ham United and Aston Villa.
