Benzema v. Lewandowski: Titans' last battle before Ballon d'Or
Since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo (37) from La Liga, we had been left wanting a great individual face-to-face between players from both teams. Now, with the arrival of Robert Lewandowski (34), we once again have a high duel at the point of attack. The Pole and Karim Benzema (34) will meet to see who is more decisive as a prelude to the Ballon d'Or gala next Monday, October 17th.
They are two football giants with totally antagonistic styles. However, both seek the same goal: the goal. Benzema enjoys associative football, making his teammates play to help him score. Lewandowski is direct and lethal, the fewer touches, the better. Curiously, the Poland international is the antithesis of the tiki-taka defended since the era of Johan Cruyff in Barcelona.
With the data of this campaign in hand, many would launch to affirm there will be no duel because the Barça player is far above. To date, he has converted 14 goals in 12 official matches in the Blaugrana shirt - nine in La Liga and five in the Champions League - and has accompanied them with two assists. That means that he has had a participation in almost 60% of the goals of the team led by Xavi Hernández (42).
However, let's not rule out Benzema so quickly, the second-highest scorer in the history of Real Madrid, the man who led his team to the double in 2021/22 is still there and will end up coming back. Despite the fact that he has only been involved in 21% of the team's goals - four goals and one assist, it must be taken into account that a knee injury stopped him for three weeks at the start of the season and he must pick up competitive pace.
This weekend's El Clásico is number 42 for the French striker. In the previous 41, he's found the net 11 times, making him one of his favourite rivals in recent times. For Lewandowski, in contrast, it will be the first experience in the match of matches in La Liga. The other times he has faced Madrid, he hasn't done badly - scoring six goals in eight meetings. He is especially remembered for the four he bagged in the first leg of the 2013 Champions League semi-final at Signal Iduna Park.
Looking ahead to the Ballon d'Or
Without detracting from Benzema's brilliant season, Lewandowski wanted to spice up El Clasico on the occasion of the imminent Ballon d'Or award ceremony: "If they don't cancel it, it's likely that he will win it this year," he said ironically, remembering 2020. And it is in that year of COVID-19, the great favourite was then playing for Bayern, scoring 55 goals, and was decisive in the successes of the Bavarian team. However, he did not mention that in 2021 Leo Messi (35) snatched it from him with some controversy in an event marked by the questionable success of Paris Saint-Germain.
The Poland striker did not deny that it is normal for Benzema to be a favourite. The Real Madrid captain played a crucial role in achieving Real Madrid's 35th La Liga title and 14th Champions League; 44 goals and 15 assists in the competitions endorse what will surely be a well-deserved Ballon d'Or. In addition, it is expected that the delivery of the award will be made by Cristiano Ronaldo, former teammate and friend of the Frenchman, as the culmination of a very special act.
