Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema has scored 41 goals in all competitions this season

When you have missed three penalties in a month, what do you do? If you want to score a Panenka, you have to step up in the semifinals.

That is what Benzema did anyway.

The Real Madrid forward showed nerves of steel as he calmly stroked his spot-kick over Ederson to make it 4-3 in their thrilling first-leg defeat at the hands of Manchester City.

The nonchalance summed up a sensational match between two of Europe's giants that showcased relentless attacking football.

Rio Ferdinand said "Ice cold, this guy." He has won a number of titles. Even if it was late, he would still execute it.

Benzema missed two penalties in Real Madrid's win over Osasuna, but he netted his ninth goal in his last four games.

Benzema said that if you don't take a penalty, you will never miss one.

That is mental confidence. I have a lot of faith in myself and I do it.

We have to go to the Real Madrid for the second leg and we will need our fans like never before, and we are going to do something magical, which is win.

Alan Shearer was laughing as he watched Benzema's penalty go in.

Shearer said that he cannot believe that Benzema has done that.

He seems to be getting better. The audacity! It was amazing.

'He changed it in training'

Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema scored in the 33rd and 82nd minutes at the Etihad

City went 2-0 up within 11 minutes and missed a lot of chances before Benzema got one back for Real at the half-time break.

Phil Foden and Vinicius Junior scored in quick succession as the visitors kept fighting back, before Bernardo Silva fired the hosts 4-2 up.

Real went into the second leg with a one-goal deficit after Benzema missed two penalty kicks, but manager Carlo Ancelotti believes the forward changed his mentality.

I think he changed because of the last two penalties. He tried it in training. I didn't know how he would shoot.

He chose this and it went well. He has a strong personality. It is not easy to do a penalty in the semi-finals of the competition.

If Benzema had missed, he would have been in trouble, according to Steve McManaman.

He missed two in his last game against Osasuna and he thought Ederson would be studying where he was trying to put the ball.

He hasn't done a Panenka so now is the time. He knows he will be criticized if he misses, because they were 4-2 down at the time.

Benzema has 41 goals this season, including 14 in the European competition.

Vinicius hoped that he could end the season well, winning the league, the European Championship and the Ballon d'Or.

That doesn't seem beyond him on this evidence.

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