'I'm not a fan' - RTÉ panel disagree over Benzema's Panenka

Karim Benzema, the leading scorer in this season's Champions League, claimed the final goal in an absorbing Champions League semi-final in a 4-3 first-leg defeat to Man City, but the strike itself was a talking point.

The in-form striker made it 41 goals in 41 appearances in all competitions, but his second of the night, a cheeky Panenka penalty to ensure Madrid return to the Bernabeu with a single-goal defeat, resulted in contrasting opinions from RTÉ panellists Richie Sadlier and Didi Hamann.

"The audacity, the composure, the technique, the confidence, the bravery...to do that, in this moment of the tie is just a thing of beauty," Sadlier said afterward as Benzema followed up five goals against Chelsea in the last round to two and counting against City.

A penalty worth watching over and over again. Despite missing the last two penalties he took, Real Madrid's Karem Benzema stepped up and masterfully converted from the spot to make it 4-3 against Manchester City. #RTESoccer pic.twitter.com/oEGErYm0P5

"So few players in that moment would consider doing that, let alone execute. You can't question him."

Former German international Hamann however felt the audacious technique falls on the wrong side of the risk-reward ledger.

"I’m not a fan," he said when asked for his thoughts on the 80th-minute penalty.

"The risk is too high for it to go wrong. It very nearly was a foot too high."