Karim Benzema: Five-time Champions League winner to leave Real Madrid after 14 years
Karim Benzema is to leave Real Madrid after 14 years at the club.
The Ballon d'Or-winning striker, who joined the Spanish giants from Lyon in 2009, will depart on a free transfer when the season ends.
Benzema, who had a year left on his
KATHMANDU, April 13: The Spanish club Real Madrid has defeated the English club Chelsea in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals.
In the match held on Wednesday night in the Santiago Bernabeu, Real defeated Chelsea by 2-0. Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio
France and Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema has dropped his appeal against a conviction for complicity in blackmail in a sex-tape case that rocked French soccer
Jan 17: Real Madrid won a 12th Super Cup title as goals from Luka Modric and Karim Benzema secured victory against Athletic Bilbao in Saudi Arabia.
Modric curled in a brilliant strike to give Real a first-half lead at Riyadh's King Fahd International Stadium.
Benzema then made it 2-0 with a penalty after the video assistant referee awarded a spot-kick for handball.
The striker's shot had hit Yeray Alvarez, whose arms were raised as he made the block.
Real were also penalised for a handball late on as Eder Militao was sent off for blocking a shot and Bilbao were awarded a penalty.
However, keeper Thibaut Courtois produced a superb save to keep out Raul Garcia with his leg to ensure there was no late comeback for Athletic, who won the trophy last year.
Victory means Real move to within one of rivals Barcelona's record tally of 13 Super Cup titles.
MADRID, Jan. 3: Real Madrid kicked off the New Year with a 1-0 defeat away to Getafe on Sunday.
Despite several cases of COVID-19 in the Real Madrid squad, the only first-team regular sidelined by the virus was Vinicius Jr, which meant Marcos Asensio and Rodrygo started alongside Karim Benzema in attack.
Enes Unal scored the only goal of the game in the 9th minute after a bad mistake from Eder Militao, and although Real Madrid had 70 percent possession and 14 shots, they were unable to beat David Soria in the Getafe goal.
Luka Modric's effort against the woodwork was the closest they got as Getafe took three vital points in their battle to avoid relegation.
The result means Sevilla can cut Real Madrid's lead at the top of the table to four points if they win away to Cadiz on Monday night.
Two goals from Angel Correa ended Atletico Madrid's four-game losing streak with a 2-0 win at home to Rayo Vallecano, who had been badly affected by COVID-19 in the run up to the game.
Correa was man of the match with his goals in the 28th and 53rd minute, but Yannick Carrasco also played a big part in Atletico's win with his trickery in attack.
FC Barcelona overcame the absence of 17 first-team players through COVID-19 and injury to win 1-0 away to Real Mallorca, who were also without several players.
Luuk de Jong was Barca's first-half hero, with the big striker hitting the post twice in a minute - the second time with a spectacular overhead kick - before heading home a cross from the right as Mallorca keeper Manuel Reina was stranded in no-man's land.
Goalkeeper Marc Andre Ter Stegen was Barca's second-half hero, saving the win for his side with an astonishing reflex save to deny Mallorca left-back Jaume Costa in injury time.
Real Betis fell to their second defeat in two games after two goals from Celta Vigo striker Iago Aspas gave his side a 2-0 win in the Benito Villamarin stadium.
Aspas's first goal came from the penalty spot, while his second came after he dribbled round several defenders before slipping the ball into the net.
Jose Luis Mendilibar's debut as coach of Alaves ended in a 1-1 draw at home to Real Sociedad, who have now gone six league games without a win. Adnan Januzaj put Real Sociedad ahead in a game where both sides were without players due to COVID-19, but Joselu's second-half penalty saw the points shared.
Elche played for almost half a game with 10 men after Diego Gonzalez was sent off in the 47th minute of their 0-0 draw at home to Granada for a professional foul on Luis Suarez.
Both sides had chances to win the game but a draw was probably a fair reflection of the game.
As well as Sevilla's visit to Cadiz, Monday sees Athletic Bilbao play the 4,000th game in their 124-year history when they travel to Pamplona to face Osasuna, while Villarreal entertain bottom side Levante, who are still searching for their first league win of the campaign.
MADRID, Oct. 4: Both Real Madrid and FC Barcelona go into the international break with problems after they both suffered defeats in La Liga over the weekend.
Recently promoted Espanyol - for whom Chinese striker Wu Lei played the last 25 minutes - stunned Real Madrid 2-1 on Sunday afternoon, highlighting Los Blancos' defensive problems.
Raul de Tomas' near-post finish and Aleix Vidal's excellent individual goal put Espanyol 2-0 up. Karim Benzema gave Madrid hope with his ninth goal of the season in the 71st minute but there were to be no further goals.
The defeat follows a goalless draw against Villarreal and a shock Champions League loss to Sheriff Tiraspol, and means Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti faces a difficult couple of weeks.
Ronald Koeman is clinging on to his job at FC Barcelona after his side suffered a painful defeat away to Atletico Madrid on Saturday night.
Former Barca striker Luis Suarez was Koeman's tormenter-in-chief, setting up Thomas Lemar for Atletico's opener midway through the first half and then doubling their lead just before half-time as Barca made significant errors in defense.
Barca never really looked like getting back on level terms, despite Ansu Fati being brought into the action midway through the second half, although surprise declarations from Barca president Joan Laporta look to have assured Koeman's short-term future when many expected him to be sacked.
Villarreal's season continues to build thanks to a 2-0 win at home to Real Betis thanks to two goals from Dutch winger Arnaut Danjuma, who put his side ahead on the stroke of half-time and confirmed the win with his second of the game with 20 minutes left to play.
Real Sociedad are third in the table, level on points with Atletico and Real Madrid, but missed the chance to go top after drawing 1-1 at home to Getafe, who took their first point of the season thanks to Sandro Ramirez's first-half goal, which was canceled out by Mikel Oyarzabal's 68th minute goal.
Sevilla missed the chance to move level with Real Madrid, Atletico and Real Sociedad when they lost 1-0 away to struggling Granada. Ruben Rochina's powerful 24th minute shot and a series of saves from Granada keeper Luis Maximiano helped Robert Moreno's side to their first win of the season and probably saved the coach's job, at least for the short term.
Sevilla ended up with 10 men after Diego Carlos was sent off for using his elbow on Granada striker Luis Suarez.
Manu Sanchez's diving header in injury-time gave Osasuna a 1-0 win at home to Rayo Vallecano to end the visitors' five-game unbeaten run.
Angel's 74th minute goal got Real Mallorca back to winning ways at the expense of Levante, who have still to win this campaign.
Cadiz coach Alvaro Cervera left out seven first-team players who had gone partying after last weekend's defeat to Rayo Vallecano, and his much-changed side held on for a 0-0 draw at home to Valencia.
Valencia dominated the game with 68 percent possession and 16 shots against just two from Cadiz, but were unable to stop their run of games without a win extending to four.
Bernadetto's goal early in the second half got Elche back on track with a 1-0 win at home to Celta Vigo, who saw how Iago Aspas's goal in the last minute ruled out for handball.
Friday night saw Raul Garcia's 44th minute header gave Athletic Bilbao a 1-0 win at home to Alaves on a night that saw Athletic striker Inaki Williams make a record 203rd consecutive La Liga appearance.
Garcia had earlier seen a penalty saved, but was in the right place to nod home Inigo Lekue's header on the stroke of half-time.
MADRID, Oct. 4: Both Real Madrid and FC Barcelona go into the international break with problems after they both suffered defeats in La Liga over the weekend.
Recently promoted Espanyol - for whom Chinese striker Wu Lei played the last 25 minutes - stunned Real Madrid 2-1 on Sunday afternoon, highlighting Los Blancos' defensive problems.
Raul de Tomas' near-post finish and Aleix Vidal's excellent individual goal put Espanyol 2-0 up. Karim Benzema gave Madrid hope with his ninth goal of the season in the 71st minute but there were to be no further goals.
The defeat follows a goalless draw against Villarreal and a shock Champions League loss to Sheriff Tiraspol, and means Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti faces a difficult couple of weeks.
Ronald Koeman is clinging on to his job at FC Barcelona after his side suffered a painful defeat away to Atletico Madrid on Saturday night.
Former Barca striker Luis Suarez was Koeman's tormenter-in-chief, setting up Thomas Lemar for Atletico's opener midway through the first half and then doubling their lead just before half-time as Barca made significant errors in defense.
Barca never really looked like getting back on level terms, despite Ansu Fati being brought into the action midway through the second half, although surprise declarations from Barca president Joan Laporta look to have assured Koeman's short-term future when many expected him to be sacked.
Villarreal's season continues to build thanks to a 2-0 win at home to Real Betis thanks to two goals from Dutch winger Arnaut Danjuma, who put his side ahead on the stroke of half-time and confirmed the win with his second of the game with 20 minutes left to play.
Real Sociedad are third in the table, level on points with Atletico and Real Madrid, but missed the chance to go top after drawing 1-1 at home to Getafe, who took their first point of the season thanks to Sandro Ramirez's first-half goal, which was canceled out by Mikel Oyarzabal's 68th minute goal.
Sevilla missed the chance to move level with Real Madrid, Atletico and Real Sociedad when they lost 1-0 away to struggling Granada. Ruben Rochina's powerful 24th minute shot and a series of saves from Granada keeper Luis Maximiano helped Robert Moreno's side to their first win of the season and probably saved the coach's job, at least for the short term.
Sevilla ended up with 10 men after Diego Carlos was sent off for using his elbow on Granada striker Luis Suarez.
Manu Sanchez's diving header in injury-time gave Osasuna a 1-0 win at home to Rayo Vallecano to end the visitors' five-game unbeaten run.
Angel's 74th minute goal got Real Mallorca back to winning ways at the expense of Levante, who have still to win this campaign.
Cadiz coach Alvaro Cervera left out seven first-team players who had gone partying after last weekend's defeat to Rayo Vallecano, and his much-changed side held on for a 0-0 draw at home to Valencia.
Valencia dominated the game with 68 percent possession and 16 shots against just two from Cadiz, but were unable to stop their run of games without a win extending to four.
Bernadetto's goal early in the second half got Elche back on track with a 1-0 win at home to Celta Vigo, who saw how Iago Aspas's goal in the last minute ruled out for handball.
Friday night saw Raul Garcia's 44th minute header gave Athletic Bilbao a 1-0 win at home to Alaves on a night that saw Athletic striker Inaki Williams make a record 203rd consecutive La Liga appearance.
Garcia had earlier seen a penalty saved, but was in the right place to nod home Inigo Lekue's header on the stroke of half-time.
MADRID, Aug. 21: Real Madrid confirmed on Friday that they have extended the contract of striker Karim Benzema until the end of June 2023.
The 33-year-old's previous contract had been due to expire in 2022 and the new deal means he will remain at the Santiago Bernabeu until he is 35 years old.
Benzema has been vital to Real Madrid since joining from Olympique Lyon in 2009, scoring 281 goals in 560 appearances, and his forms appears to have improved with time.
Last season, Benzema netted 23 goals in La Liga, and his movement off the ball also makes him a key part of the Real Madrid attack, as well as earning him a recall to the France national team ahead of this summer's Euro 2020.
The striker's new deal completes a series of contract extensions carried out by Real Madrid in recent months, with Luka Modric, Nacho Fernandez, Lucas Vazquez and Thibaut Courtois all extending their stays with the club.
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