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
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Benzema’s resurgence could be key for Madrid as they aim to close the gap at the top.
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Cristiano’s support reinforces the importance of unity in overcoming media pressure.
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Madrid’s upward trajectory shows they are finding their rhythm at a crucial point in the season.
