Real Madrid: Footage of Karim Benzema and Rodrygo's chat before penalty vs Man City

Karim Benzema held his nerve when Real Madrid needed him most against Manchester City.

When the Premier League giants led 5-3 on aggregate going into the final minutes at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night, nobody could have anticipated the staggering comeback that was about to take place.

That’s because Los Blancos produced one of the greatest turnarounds in Champions League history when they scored three goals in a matter of minutes to book themselves a place in the final.

And it all started with Rodrygo, who stepped up to the plate with a goal either side of the 90-minute mark to set up an additional half-hour in which the Spanish champions secured the win.

First, the 21-year-old did brilliantly well to convert Benzema’s cross from close range and second, he equalised with an inch-perfect header past Ederson from Dani Carvajal’s delivery.

In fact, Rodrygo even had a chance to send Real to Paris in regulation time with what would have been an extraordinary hat-trick, but his one-on-one effort was smothered by the City goalkeeper.

Nevertheless, it would appear as though the Brazilian forward still had a chance to take home the match ball when Real were awarded a penalty for Ruben Dias’ challenge on Benzema.

Now, as we all know, it was Benzema who actually stepped up to take the spot-kick – finding the bottom corner with a slotted effort – but new information suggests that things could have gone very differently.

Besides, while Benzema might have been on the high of scoring a Panenka in the first leg at the Etihad Stadium, it’s no secret that his penalties haven’t necessarily been bang on the money in recent weeks.

As lethal as Benzema has been in front of goal this season, he missed no less than three spot-kicks in the