Karim Benzema: Mental confidence key to Panenka penalty in Real Madrid's Champions League clash with Man City

Karim Benzema has explained how his “mental confidence” was the key to his audacious Panenka penalty against Manchester City. The striker showed nerves of steel to chip a penalty down the middle and bring Real Madrid back into the Champions League semi-final first leg at the Etihad. Ad/> The penalty ensured Real left Manchester with only a one-goal deficit after a 4-3 defeat.

Champions LeagueReal Madrid are a Champions League force of nature — The Warm-UpAN HOUR AGO Benzema had missed two penalties in Real’s previous game against Osasuna, but said: “I always have it in my head that if you don't take a penalty, you will never miss a penalty. «That's mental confidence, that's all. I have a lot of confidence in myself so I do it and it turns out well.

»Now we have to go to the Bernabeu [for the second leg] and we will need our fans like never before and we are going to do something magical, which is win." The Warm-Up: Real are a force of nature Why City and Real must play the same way next week Benzema, who is one of the favourites for the 2022 Ballon d’Or, has now scored a remarkable 41 goals in 41 appearances this season. By netting twice against City he took his Champions League tally this season to 14, including nine in his last four matches. Real head coach Carlo Ancelotti said about the penalty: «I think he changed because the last two penalties were not good.

He tried in training, I didn't know how he would shoot. “He chose this [Panenka] and he did really well, showing strong personality and character. It's not easy in the semi-final of the Champions League to shoot a penalty like this.» Real looked to be facing a tough battle at 4-2 down, but Benzema’s penalty after Aymeric Laporte handled in the box means there is