Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane hails striker's brace in 3-0 rout of Valencia; Frenchman goes past club legend Puskas to become Real's fifth-leading scorer.
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema celebrates his goal against Valencia in their La Liga tie on Thursday. pic/AFP
Zinedine Zidane said Karim Benzema "shuts people up a bit" when he scores goals like his stunning volley against Valencia on Thursday. Benzema brilliantly lifted the ball over defender Hugo Gillamon with his right foot and then shot with his left into the top corner as Madrid beat Valencia 3-0 at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium.
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Marco Asensio had earlier made it two after Benzema gave Madrid the lead, his brace taking his tally for the season to 21 goals in 38 games.
"His performance was magnificent, like the whole team, but his goal was extraordinary," said Zidane. "We know that he is comfortable with his left foot but wow, to lift the ball in that way and to swing like that with his left foot, without the ball touching the ground, truly it's a very complicated piece of skill. It's beautiful to see it and I'm happy for him," added Zidane.
"Often we see Karim as the number nine of Madrid and he must score goals, but he doesn't only do that. So when he does score, I'm happy because he shuts people up a bit, and the work, he always does that no matter what." Benzema is a controversial figure in France after his alleged involvement in a blackmail plot against former teammate Mathieu Valbuena. He has not played for the national team since 2015.
But Benzema, 32, has been in sensational form for Real Madrid this season and his latest goal was his 243rd as he surpassed Ferenc Puskas to become Madrid's fifth leading scorer of all-time. "We know all these matches are finals so this was very important for us and for me personally as well," said Benzema. "It was a beautiful goal, I think I can say it was beautiful, it went in and that was great. Sometimes I do that in practice and today I did it in the match."
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