Beware, Barcelona - Benzema is back in Ballon d'Or form!

Karim Benzema quickly demonstrated that he had returned to top form during the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Real Valladolid. In the first 25 minutes, the Real Madrid striker displayed all of his signature skills, including dropping back into space, making well-timed runs, and linking up with his fellow midfielders.

Then, Benzema's exceptional abilities as a Ballon d'Or-winning striker came to the fore. He scored his first goal with a quick dart and header at the far post, followed by a curled shot from outside the box for his second goal, and finally, an incredible display of his agility, twisting his aging frame to flick a ball that was two yards behind him into the far corner for his third goal. In just six minutes and 32 seconds, Benzema had awakened and secured his hat trick.

This timely display of form occurred just over 72 hours before Madrid's Copa del Rey semi-final Clasico, a match in which Los Blancos must overturn a 1-0 aggregate deficit to reach the final against Osasuna. An in-form Benzema is the last thing Barcelona wants to encounter in such a significant fixture as he is the key to Madrid's success and advancing to the final.

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Benzema's exceptional form exudes an aura of inevitability, a characteristic shared by all great strikers. This quality was instrumental in making him the world's best player last year. Even when Real Madrid appeared to be losing in matches such as against Manchester City and PSG in the Champions League, Benzema would rise to the occasion and score crucial goals, instilling fear in his opponents. He was at his best during this time of the year, scoring 12 goals in his last 11 games starting from April 2.

Benzema's exceptional form exudes an aura of inevitability

During last year's Champions League, he scored a hat-trick at Stamford Bridge, two goals at the Etihad Stadium in the first leg of the semi-final, and another goal at the Santiago Bernabeu, securing a place in the final. His league tally was also impressive, but it was his performance in knockout matches that set him apart. Despite the pressure, he remained consistent and always delivered when it mattered the most, whether it was to save his team from a La Liga defeat or to prevent Champions League elimination.

However, this season, those moments have been less frequent. There have been several games where Benzema has been on the pitch but unable to rescue his team. While this is understandable, it highlights his human fallibility, especially since he turned 35 in December. Although he is still scoring goals at a similar rate, his approach on the field has changed. He still makes signature runs and link-ups with Vinicius Jr, but the end product has not always been there.

He missed opportunities against Real Betis and was ineffective against Barcelona. Benzema, who was typically selfless compared to other elite strikers, has started to look vulnerable.

Injury issues

Benzema has been facing a series of nagging knocks this season, including a hamstring problem, a hip flexor pull, and general fatigue due to his age. While he has managed to stay relatively free of serious injuries in recent years, these ailments have raised some concerns, particularly since Madrid lacks a backup striker. Although Brazilian Rodrygo has been charged with playing as a No.

Benzema has been facing a series of nagging knocks this season

9 in his absence, he is more comfortable as an attacking midfielder or winger. Youngster Alvaro Rodriguez has shown potential but lacks the experience to lead the line in big games. As a result, Benzema has been forced to play despite lacking match fitness, and his body seems to be holding him back at times.

For instance, he went three matches without scoring and missed some big chances at the end of February, which coincided with Madrid's failure to win any of those games and Barcelona's opening of an unassailable double-digit lead in La Liga. While it's not time to panic yet, Benzema's knocks may be a sign of decline, as they have been for so many players in their mid-30s.

The France fallout

Benzema arrived at France's World Cup camp in mid-November 2022 in a typical manner, taking photos with the team for social media and joking around with his teammates. Despite experiencing a strange muscle problem, it didn't raise much concern since France was among the favorites to win the tournament, and Benzema was determined to perform in what could be his final international competition.

France later announced that Benzema had suffered a thigh injury

However, France later announced that Benzema had suffered a thigh injury, ultimately ending his World Cup journey. What followed were several peculiar weeks filled with rumors about Benzema's reluctance to play for the team and manager Didier Deschamps pushing him out of the picture. Nonetheless, the events leading up to his departure became insignificant due to the subsequent turn of events. Benzema essentially received six weeks off, during which he recuperated and came back stronger, scoring seven goals in his first seven matches after the World Cup. Whether fueled by a desire for revenge or the benefits of much-needed rest, the hiatus had revived Benzema's form.

A much-needed rest

Benzema now finds himself in a similar situation as before, having retired from France duty due to irreconcilable differences with Deschamps. This allowed him to rest and train while his former colleagues won their first two Euro 2024 qualifiers in the past two weeks.

Benzema seemed unhappy about being removed from the game during Real's rout

Upon his return to action, Benzema's performance was reminiscent of last year's. He scored a seven-minute hat-trick and had one of his best showings of the year, with five shots on target, creating an additional big chance, and finishing the game with an almost perfect match rating. Manager Carlo Ancelotti substituted him after 64 minutes, and Benzema received a warm reception as he left the field.

Although Benzema seemed unhappy about being removed from the game during Real's rout, his performance was nearly flawless. Not only did he display glimpses of his Ballon d'Or-winning form, but he also got to rest for 25 minutes and avoid further fatigue from additional running.

What Barca have to fear

Barcelona's defense of their slim 1-0 lead looks bleak due to recent developments. Despite their impressive win at the Bernabeu a few weeks ago, the Blaugrana were fortunate to come out on top in the first leg with their own goal as their winning goal and allowing 65 percent possession to Los Blancos.

Carlo Ancelotti, Madrid's coach, stated after the game that they deserved a better outcome and that if they played the same way in the second leg, they would have a higher chance of winning. He doesn't believe that Barcelona can adopt the same approach at home.

However, during that match, Barcelona was up against a partially fit Benzema. The striker had been hastily brought back for a Champions League game against Liverpool a week earlier, remained in the team for the Madrid derby, and appeared out of sorts and ideas that night.

While Barcelona deserves credit for their defensive performance, they will be up against a fully rested and in-form Benzema on Wednesday, who is renowned for his performances during this time of year.

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