Karim Benzema Explains How he Improved Without Cristiano Ronaldo

• Legendary Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema has revealed how he changed his own game after Cristiano Ronaldo left the club
• Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo played 342 games together over a nine year spell between 2009 and 2018
• Real Madrid will cross swords against Eintracht Franfurt in the UEFA Super Cup in Helsinki on Wednesday, 10th August

Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema has admitted he had to assume a bigger role at the Los Blancos following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Benzema has been expertly leading the line for the Spanish champions, scoring 44 goals last season as Real Madrid clinched the UEFA Champions League for the 14th time.

The Los Merengues were also victorious in the Spanish La Liga last term as the Frenchman revelled in the key role handed to him by Carlo Ancelotti.

Benzema played together successfully with Ronaldo for nine years between 2009 and 2018, but the Frenchman is relishing his return to prominence.

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Ahead of the Super Cup clash with Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday, 10th August, Benzema was asked by Nigerian journalist Oma Akatugba how his game improved since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo.

"After Cristiano's departure, I started scoring more. With him, I gave more assists, he used to help me a lot.

"You have to always work to the benefit of the team, to play the most useful role possible, to complete your teammates and make the team better.

"I knew that I could do better, and when Cristiano left, I understood that the time came to change, both in terms of playstyle and ambition. And that's what I did."

New Offside Technology to Feature in Final Between Real Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt

Sports Brief earlier reported that the match between Real Madrid and Frankfurt in Helsinki would feature the use of semi-automated offside technology.

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According to FIFA’s website, the technology speeds up the time taken to reach offside decisions. The system involves specialised cameras that track 29 different body points per player. A sensor inside the ball will also relay information back quicker.

The system allows the video assistant referee (VAR) a chance to determine offside situations quicker and more accurately. This will help speed up the game and lead to more consistent decisions.

VAR has been heavily criticised since its inception, with many believing it led to more bad calls and killed the flow of the game. The new technology aims to fix this.