The UEFA Champions League semifinal spherical begins on Tuesday, with reigning champion Real Madrid taking up Manchester City. Both groups with their in-form strikers, Karim Benzema and Erling Haaland, shall be hoping to see them proceed their goal-scoring run and provides their workforce a bonus within the first leg.
Real Madrid has performed the present Premier League toppers eight instances with all sides successful three of those encounters and drawing twice. The two groups confronted one another in final yr’s semifinal, which noticed the 14-time champion scoring an extra-time winner and successful 6-5 to seal their place within the remaining.
Benzema scored 15 targets within the competitors final season and has received 5 Champions League titles with Real Madrid, and is among the many all-time high objective scorers with 90 targets after Cristiano Ronaldo (140), Lionel Messi (129) and Robert Lewandowski (91).
The 2022 Ballon d’Or winner has landed himself on the scoresheet 21 instances this season – 17 targets within the La Liga and 4 within the Champions League. Benzema, who netted the successful penalty within the earlier fixture in opposition to City, has scored six targets within the seven instances he has confronted them.
Manchester City, which has not too long ago been in successful type, shall be seeking to get one again on Madrid with its record-breaking striker, Haaland. The 22-year-old not too long ago turned the participant with essentially the most targets scored in a Premier League season after he scored 35 targets in 34 video games.
Haaland has a staggering 51 targets to his title throughout all codecs within the ongoing season, with 12 of these scored within the Champions League. He is simply 5 targets in need of Cristiano Ronaldo’s file in a single Champions League season – 17 for Real Madrid in 2013/14.
The Norwegian International is but to play in opposition to Real Madrid in a aggressive match – his solely look in opposition to the facet was in a pre-season pleasant in 2019 when he performed for RB Salzburg.
City, which is but to carry the Champions League trophy, shall be hoping to make it to the end line with Haaland on their facet.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com