Benzema says goodbye to his legend with a goal and an ovation from the Bernabéu: "It was a last minute decision"
Between July 20, 2009 and June 4, 2023, 5,067 days have passed. Almost 14 years in which Karim Benzema has gone from being a 21-year-old boy who had just arrived from a neighborhood in Lyon to an absolute legend of Real Madrid. On his last day at the Santiago Bernabéu, in his last greeting, his last photo and his last goodbye, the Frenchman scored his last goal in the draw against Athletic Club.
The surroundings of Chamartín were filled with shirts with the last name of the Frenchman, protagonist of an afternoon of farewells in the Castellana. There were also the final applause for Asensio, Mariano and Hazard, drops that expand the salary space of the Madrid portfolio towards a summer of a lot of work.
Benzema did not change his pre-match routine one iota. He jumped onto the pitch with his teammates to warm up, greeted the stands, exercised and withdrew from the last to the changing room tunnel, honing his aim with Vinicius and Rodrygo, his two great companions in Madrid's attack these two years.
without much mobility
Already on the pitch, the game found him somewhat out of shape, like the last weeks of the season. He has only played three of the last seven league games and he noticed it. It was difficult for him to sprint and move with the agility of yesteryear and his farewell weighed heavily on him emotionally, receiving an ovation from the stadium when he touched his first ball.
It was also difficult for Madrid, flat and without spark against an Athletic Club that was playing for a place in European positions. The people of Bilbao found a prize very soon, although they did not take advantage of it. In minute 6, Díaz de Mera punished a handball by Toni Kroos with a penalty, who opened his arms in a jump and saw how the ball hit him from behind. Courtois, fortunately for Real Madrid, stopped Vesga's launch.
The stands celebrated the action of the Belgian, but returned to what mattered: “Karim, Karim, Karim Benzema!”. In the absence of large banners and tributes (that will be on Tuesday at an event in Valdebebas), the Bernabéu gave its captain all the songs he knew.
Benzema's penalty for 1-1 at the Bernabéu.
Vinicius and Rüdiger were able to put Madrid ahead, but they ran into Unai Simón in a first half without rhythm or dangerous chances. The visitors relied on the speed of the Williams brothers, the most active. In Madrid, Rodrygo and Vinicius put in the best actions, but it wasn't their day either.
After the break, a loss by Ceballos led to the 0-1. Courtois stopped the first definition of Sancet, who was left alone in the area after the loss of the Andalusian, but could not with the second. The Belgian, enraged, began with his string of fights against his teammates. He avoided the 0-2 on two occasions from Iñaki.
The goal number 354
As the second half progressed, the Bernabéu stirred to celebrate the legend of Karim Benzema. In 1970, the Frenchman scored Yuri's penalty on Militao, made it 1-1 in the game, scored his 354th goal with the Madrid shirt, his 19th in this League, stretched out his arms, sent kisses to the stands and looked at the sky. There was his latest effort dressed in white.
At the moment, Ancelotti withdrew him from the field so that he could take the tribute he so deserved. With a calm step and looking non-stop at the stands, the Frenchman applauded the ovation of a crowd that will always remember him. Once in the band, he hugged Carletto for a few seconds and hugged all the members of the coaching staff one by one.
Without Benzema, the game was at the feet of Vinicius, who was once again the best in Madrid. The Brazilian invented a spectacular play in the final stretch from the right wing to the small area, but Rodrygo defined high.
Ancelotti, always elegant, saved a change for last and retired Marco Asensio, who had entered the second half, in discount, so that the Spaniard said goodbye to the Bernabéu taking the second ovation of the afternoon.
After the final whistle, the players blanketed Benzema, Asensio, Hazard and Mariano and took a lap of honor with the Frenchman at the center of the chants: “Ballon d'Or, Karim Ballon d'Or!”. And there was also a moment for Nacho and Ceballos, whose continuity is not entirely clear.
“A Surprise for Everyone”
In the press room, Ancelotti confessed that the departure of Benzema “has been a last minute decision”. “He told us this morning and we understood him. He said that he was saying goodbye and nothing more. I have told him that I respect his decision and all the gratitude for everything he has done.”. The Italian admitted that “it has been a surprise for everyone”. “You have to understand him. He has thought it through and the squad is going to be competitive next year as well.”
“You have to thank him for everything he has done. He has gone as Ballon d'Or”, declared Courtois. “It's been a pleasure playing with him.. An excellent player. One of the best in the history of Madrid. We feel sorry for him, but we understand him. He is a legend and deserves to choose. I wish him the best.”
Rodrygo also had words for one of his idols. “It’s a sad day for madridismo. Karim is the one who scores goals and gives us victories.”