Benzema backs Real Madrid to do 'something magical' to reach Champions League final

Karim Benzema believes Real Madrid can do "something magical" and overturn the Champions League semi-final first leg defeat to Manchester City when the two sides meet again next week in the return fixture.

City claimed a pulsating 4-3 victory at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night in one of the most memorable matches in European Cup history.

The Premier League champions raced into a 2-0 lead, Kevin De Bruyne breaking the deadlock in the second minute and Gabriel Jesus swiftly doubling their advantage. Benzema halved the deficit with a classy finish in the 33rd before Phil Foden headed home unmarked to restore City's two-goal advantage shortly after half time. However, two minutes later, Vinicius Jr made it 3-2 with a superb goal after turning Fernandinho inside out.

Bernardo Silva gave City some breathing room with a stunning strike in the 73rd minute, but Benzema grabbed his second from the penalty spot after Aymeric Laporte handled inside the area. In a sign of the Frenchman's brimming confidence, he dinked a perfectly executed Panenka six days after missing two penalties in one La Liga match.

With the tie delicately poised ahead of the second leg, Benzema has called on Real Madrid and the club's fans to turn the Bernabeu into a fortress next Wednesday as the Spanish giants aim to keep alive their bid for a record-extending 14th European Cup.

"A defeat is never good because we are really excited about the Champions League. The most important thing is we never lay down our arms, we are all in this until the end," Benzema, 33, said.

"Now we have to go to the Bernabeu and we will need our fans like never before and we are going to do something magical, which is win."

Benzema is enjoying the most prolific campaign of his