Karim Benzema delivered a powerful response to his critics on Sunday by scoring twice in Real Madrid’s 5-0 thrashing of Athletic Bilbao, helping silence doubts over his recent form. The French striker, under intense scrutiny from both Madrid’s press and fans for his lack of goals, played a pivotal role in the dominant performance.
🔥 Benzema Steps Up
With his brace, Benzema showed clinical finishing and intelligent movement — answering critics with actions rather than words. His second goal came from an assist by Cristiano Ronaldo, who was quick to defend and praise his teammate.
Cristiano Ronaldo on Benzema:
“I’m very happy for him. He’s the best striker in La Liga and one of the best in the world.”
“The criticism he receives is part of the daily life of a professional footballer and we have to be above that.”
Ronaldo himself added a hat-trick, bringing his tally to 13 goals in just seven La Liga matches, continuing a blistering start to his campaign.
⚽ Real Madrid Gaining Momentum
After a shaky start to the season, Los Blancos now sit 4th in La Liga, just four points behind leaders FC Barcelona, who remain unbeaten.
Ronaldo added: “We are improving in several areas, but we still have room for improvement.”
📈 Takeaway
Benzema’s resurgence could be key for Madrid as they aim to close the gap at the top.
Cristiano’s support reinforces the importance of unity in overcoming media pressure.
Madrid’s upward trajectory shows they are finding their rhythm at a crucial point in the season.
