Karim Benzema was targeted with a green laser pen in the moments before scoring a Panenka penalty in Real Madrid's Champions League semi-final first leg against Manchester City.
City edged a seven-goal thriller at the Etihad on Tuesday night to take a 4-3 lead into the second leg at the Bernabeu next Wednesday.
Kevin De Bruyne put City ahead after less than two minutes before Gabriel Jesus added a second for the hosts shortly afterwards.
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Benzema pulled one back with an instinctive finish before the break, with Phil Foden and Vinicius Jr trading goals early in the second half.
Bernardo Silva restored City’s two-goal lead before Madrid were handed a late penalty when the ball struck Aymeric Laporte’s arm inside the area.
As Benzema prepared to take the crucial spot kick, a green laser was directed at his face from the home support.
But the France international kept his composure to score an outrageous Panenka down the middle of Ederson’s goal.
"Yeah, I didn't have that. I didn't have that in training!" 🫢
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 26, 2022
"I grabbed Joleon. I said 'Oh my god, how dare he!'" 😂@JoleonLescott and @rioferdy5 on THAT Benzema penalty!
The centre-back union can only sit back and admire...#UCL pic.twitter.com/m9BIcVbwno
It was his 41st goal of the season for Madrid in as many games.
There have been a number of high-profile incidents of players being targeted by laser pens while taking penalties in recent matches.
Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was on the receiving end during the Euro 2020 semi-final against England at Wembley last summer.
Mohamed Salah was also targeted during Egypt’s 2022 World Cup play-off defeat to Senegal last month.
Karim Benzema; the coolest man in football 🥶#UCL pic.twitter.com/2SwoPyh1Kr
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 26, 2022
Speaking after the defeat to City, Benzema explained why he had chosen to do a Panenka after missing two penalties in a La Liga match against Osasuna last weekend.
"All the goalkeepers have studied my penalties and I had to change," he said.
"The penalty by me was cold blooded."
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Featured Image Credit: BT Sport
Topics: Karim Benzema, Real Madrid, Football, Champions League, Manchester City, La Liga
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