IFFHS CONTINENTAL NEWS - EUROPE
Picture : Karim Benzema is in top form with Real !
Statistics on Champions’ League semi-final of April 26
*The game Manchester City vs Real Madrid (4-3) became the joint-highest scoring semi-final in Champions League history, alongside the thrillers Ajax vs Bayern Munich (5-2, on 19 April 1995) and Liverpool vs Roma (5-2, on 24 April 2018).
*Karim Benzema, with a brace vs Man City, became the new leader of UCL goal-scorers of the 2021/2022 season. He has 14 goals now, more than Robert Lewandowski (13, Bayern) and Sebastien Haller (11, Ajax).
*Benzema lifted his tally to 41 goals (in as many games) for Real Madrid this season. He has reached the mark of 40 goals in a season for the first time in his career.
The last player to score 40+ goals in a single season for Real Madrid was Cristiano Ronaldo (44 in 2017-18).
All players who ever reached 40 goals for a season in Real Madrid, are Di Stéfano, Puskás, Hugo Sánchez (2 times) and Cristiano Ronaldo (8 times).
*Benzema is one of three French players from the top 5 European leagues to do so, along with Kylian Mbappé (2020/21) and Stéphane Givarc’h (1996/97).
*This game was 600th for Benzema with Real Madrid. He caught up with Francisco Gento, who played for Real Madrid from 1953 to 1971. Fernando Hierro (601 matches), Santillana (645), Sergio Ramos (671), Manolo Sanchis (710), Iker Casillas (725) and Raul (741) are ahead of Gento and Benzema.
*The intermediate score 0-2 after 11 minutes was the earliest 0-2 that Real Madrid has conceded in a UCL match. In the old European Cup there are two precedents: vs Stade Reims in 1956 and vs Red Star in 1987.
*Manchester City have won each of their last three Champions League games vs Real Madrid (including both legs in the round of 16 of 2019-20 season). No other English club achieved such winning series against Real.
*Kevin De Bruyne has scored earliest goal of Manchester City in Champions League games (1 minute 33 seconds). He surpassed John Stones who scored vs Feyenoord in 2017 at 1 minute 35 seconds.
*Phil Foden has scored his 9th goal in UCL. No English player has scored more while aged 21 or younger (Wayne Rooney achieved the same amount at this age).