Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema did not throw the napkin on a personal level in La Liga, as his side came close to losing the title to rivals Barcelona.
Real Madrid's task looks tough in retaining the LaLiga title for the 2022-2023 season, with an eight-point gap behind leaders Barcelona, who have played a game less with six rounds to go.
But individually, the competition for the title of top scorer between Benzema and Poland's Robert Lewandowski is heating up Barcelona, as the difference between them has shrunk from 4 goals to one, after the Real Madrid star scored 3 goals (hat-trick) in the match against Almeria on Saturday.
Ronaldinho or phenomenon Ronaldo? #الدوري_الإسباني #ريال_مدريد_الميريا pic.twitter.com/sxs0bcEvuW
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) April 29, 2023
Lewandowski is the top scorer in La Liga with 18 goals, while Benzema has 17 goals, so the Spanish newspaper "AS" believes that the Frenchman still has the opportunity to defend the top scorer award (Pichici) that he was crowned with last season.
Benzema has been absent from scoring since his three goals against Valladolid in Real Madrid's 6-0 LaLiga matchday 27 win before coming back strongly against Almeria.
The Frenchman and Lewandowski are racing in the latter stages of the league to retain the prize he achieved in the 2021-2022 season, when he scored against opponents 27 times.
The Spanish newspaper confirmed that Benzema has the best scoring rate, with the Frenchman scoring 0.7 goals per game.
⚽😉With confidence and with all the ingenuity of @Benzema!#RealMadridCelta #LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/ce2KOqHH2V
— LaLiga (@LaLigaArab) April 21, 2023
Benzema's 17 goals came in 21 games, while Lewandowski has scored 18 goals in 27 games, an average of 0.67 goals per game.
Benzema returned to the Real Madrid squad against Almeria, in the 32nd round of the Spanish league, after missing the "Merengue" in the last round against Girona due to a leg injury suffered during the match against Celta Vigo, and coach Carlo Ancelotti gave him the opportunity to play the full match.
The Frenchman missed the international retirement from Real Madrid in 11 league matches, and is now preparing to appear in the most important periods of the season, when he faces the "Merengue" Osasuna in the final of the Copa del Rey on the sixth of next May, and three days later receives Manchester City, at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals.
¡Iván Villar evitó el gol de Benzema!#RealMadridCelta #LaLigaSantander #LaLigaHighlights pic.twitter.com/RtNCO7FN1i
— LaLiga (@LaLiga) April 22, 2023
But before that, Benzema is aiming to overtake Lewandowski, who has been the top scorer since the start of the season, but his form has clearly dipped in recent weeks, and his lead is more threatened than ever.
Last season, Benzema has scored just 3 goals in his last seven league games, with Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti resting him in the 7th and 35th rounds, but this season Benzema insists on defending his trophy until the last gasp.