The unstoppable French striker
In the four Champions League that Madrid won between 2014 and 2018, it specialized in leaving German and Italian teams by the wayside: in the 16 qualifiers for those four titles (finals included), six times the rival was German and four times, transalpine ; another three were Spanish (Atleti every time), once French and only twice, English (including Liverpool in the Kiev 2018 final).
A curious phenomenon, considering that the Premier is the championship with the greatest economic power in Europe , by far. In recent times, that has been reversed: Madrid’s last four rivals in European Cup qualifiers have been British (Chelsea, City, Liverpool and Liverpool again this season) and there will be five when the referee whistles tonight at the Bernabéu. But Madrid has a reason to be calm: Karim Benzema.
A goal every 110 minutes
United (one goal in four games) and Tottenham (none in three games) spoil his average, but those duels came in his first years in white, when he had more difficulties establishing himself as a regular starter, in the midst of a fight with Higuaín for the post. But his goalscoring stability against the English is enviable: a goal every 110 minutes. And it is a current situation, since he comes from scoring three goals against Liverpool in the round of 16.
They only have a better average in the European Cup against French clubs, with 11 goals in as many games. Then come the Germans (15 goals in 27 games) and, finally, the Italians, the worst by far: barely 6 goals in a total of 20 games.