Goal and gone! Karim Benzema forced off by injury right after giving Real Madrid the lead against Liverpool
- Goal gave Madrid 1-0 lead (6-2 agg)
- Collided with Van Dijk as he scored
- Exited in obvious discomfort
WHAT HAPPENED? With El Clasico looming this weekend, Benzema sustained an apparent leg injury late in the second leg of Real Madrid's last-16 clash with Liverpool. Virgil van Dijk collided with him moments before he slotted into an empty net and almost immediately began to grimace.
However, he sat on the bench rather than going straight down the tunnel and his manager Carlo Ancelotti confirmed after the game that he would play some part against Barcelona at the weekend.
The nail in the coffin!
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 15, 2023
Karim Benzema bags his 89th goal in the #UCL to take the game away from a lacklustre Liverpool at the Bernabeu! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/yuMoKErOOL
KARIM BENZEMA PUTS THE TIE OUT OF REACH! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/BQOY2skeF4
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 15, 2023
THE BIGGER PICTURE: Madrid will revel in a dominant performance over last year's Champions League finalists, the scores ending 6-2 on aggregate to secure passage to yet another European quarter-final for Los Blancos.
WHAT NEXT FOR BENZEMA? The Frenchman will be hoping he is fit enough to start the huge Clasico start before a rest over the international break.