Topics: Champions League, Football, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bernardo Silva
Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema showed incredible composure to score an outrageous Panenka penalty in Tuesday's Champions League semi-final first leg against Manchester City.
Benzema scored twice as Madrid escaped with a 4-3 defeat from the Etihad, despite being second best for large periods of the match.
Madrid were trailing 4-2 heading into the last 10 minutes of the game when the Spanish side were awarded a penalty after the ball struck Aymeric Laporte's arm inside the area.
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Benzema stepped up to chip the penalty straight down the centre of Ederson's goal.
It was his 41st goal of the season and a remarkable display of courage, considering he had missed two penalties in a La Liga match against Osasuna last weekend.
Real Madrid supporters on social media were quick to praise Benzema after the goal.
“The balls on Benzema to try a Panenka in a Champions League semi-final…”, wrote one fan.
Another added: “For Benzema to do that under the circumstances just goes to show how much confidence he's got right now. Incredible.”
Earlier in the match, City took the lead when Kevin De Bruyne headed in the quickest ever Champions League semi-final goal after just one minute and 34 seconds.
De Bruyne then set up Gabriel Jesus for City’s second in the 11th minute as the home side threatened to run riot.
But Madrid managed to pull one back before the break, Benzema's instinctive finish halving the deficit for the visitors.
City restored their two-goal advantage when Phil Foden headed in from close range after the break, but just two minutes later Madrid had equalised - Vinicius Jr racing through to score.
Bernardo Silva looked to have settled the match for City when his stunning strike left Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois frozen.
But Benzema's late penalty ensured both sides remain firmly in the tie heading into the second leg at the Bernabeu on May 4.
