Ballon d’Or Hopeful Karim Benzema Issues Strong Warning to Man City Ahead of Return Leg

• Manchester City hold a slim advantage over Real Madrid in the race for the Champions League final after playing out an epic first leg fixture on Tuesday night
• Karim Benzema netted a brace during the semifinal first leg tie to keep Real Madrid's Champions League hopes alive ahead of the second leg
• The in-form French striker has cautioned Pep Guardiola's charges the tie has just begun with the reverse fixture a week away

Real Madrid talisman Karim Benzema has sent a strong signal to Manchester City that his side is still in contention for a spot in this season's Champion League finals ahead of the reverse tie at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Benzema, who is on a hot streak in the Champions League, bagged a brace in an enthralling seven-goal fest at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Frenchman is defiant about the chances of Real Madrid progressing to the finals despite Man City leading 4-3 on aggregate ahead of the second leg.

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In a post on Twitter, spotted by Sports Brief, Benzema declared the tie is not over yet as he envisages a comeback in Madrid next week.

Benzema's red-hot goalscoring form, a major headache for Man City

The 34-year-old forward has been in devastating form since the start of the knockout phase of the Champions League, scoring goals with rampant rapidity.

Benzema drew blank in the first leg of the round-of-16 tie against Paris Saint-German but fired a hattrick in the return leg to catapult Madrid to the last eight.

He repeated the same dose against Chelsea in the first leg at the Stamford Bridge, where his three goals ensured Real Madrid run out 3-1 victors.

The French marksman could not muster another hattrick but his solitary strike in extra-time proved to be the match-winner at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Karim has shown Pep's side what he is capable of doing with his brace yesterday and could prove deadly in the reverse fixture.

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Mesut Ozil calls for Benzema to be named 2022 Ballon d'Or winner

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that former German international Mesut Ozil has called for Karim Benzema to be awarded the 2022 Ballon d'Or award.

The ex-Arsenal and Real Madrid playmaker arrived at his assertion on the back of Benzema's performance for the Los Blancos in the semifinal first-leg tie between Manchester City and Real Madrid.

In a post on Twitter, spotted by Sports Brief, Ozil contends Benzema has been peerless in this campaign and thus merits the coveted individual award.