Karim Benzema’s stunning equaliser for Real Madrid vs Chelsea in the Champions League should NOT have stood – according to footage shown by Spanish media.
Chelsea took the lead in the 14th minute through Christian Pulisic and looked dominant in the opening exchanges.
‘Los Blancos’ then got back into the game through Benzema’s lovely volley – but MARCA think the sublime skill should’ve been for nothing.
The publication have zoomed in on Casemiro ‘fouling’ Cesar Azpilicueta just before Eder Militao’s header reaches Benzema.
Our refereeing expert says that Karim Benzema’s goal vs Chelsea should NOT have counted ❌https://t.co/ehoH3ulhqU pic.twitter.com/YWtMhz1ClD
— MARCA in English (@MARCAinENGLISH) April 27, 2021
THUNDEROUS FINISH! ⚡️
Benzema smashes the ball home on the turn and volley. Such a clinical strike!
Against the run of play Real Madrid are level… pic.twitter.com/byfE5d9wt6
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 27, 2021
Juan Andujar Oliver, who is basically their version of Peter Walton, told Radio MARCA: “Casemiro commits a foul on [Cesar] Azpilicueta before [Eder] Militao heads to Benzema, who scores.”
Is it a clear and obvious error? Who even knows nowadays.
Madrid lined up with a back five against Thomas Tuchel’s men and were without captain Sergio Ramos, Ferland Mendy and Federico Valverde.
Eden Hazard came off the bench in the second half to face his former side in what became a somewhat cagey affair in the closing stages.
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| Image Credit: PA |
At the opposite end of the pitch, Blues striker Timo Werner failed to find the net once again and had a number of chances he just couldn’t convert.
Manager Tuchel spoke post-match about the German forward and admitted he was frustrated at the misses.
“He missed a big one at West Ham and now he’s missed a big one here, that does not help,” he explained per Sky Sports.
“But it doesn’t help crying about it or regretting it all the time.
“There are millions of people who have harder things to deal with than chances that you miss. So the good thing about sport is that no one cares tomorrow, today we were sad and angry in the moment – this is normal.
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| Image Credit: PA |
“He is sad, he is angry and disappointed. Tomorrow he has a free day and the next day he must put his chin up. He’s a top guy, a professional guy.
“He works hard. He’s in the positions. He will not stop believing. Everyone accepts the situation like it is. With strikers, if you score the next game, nobody speaks.”