Al Nassr vs Benzema: A Battle for the Most Shots at Goal in Champions League History
The UEFA Champions League is one of the world's premier football competitions, attracting some of the best players and teams from across Europe. In recent years, there has been a growing rivalry between two of the league's leading scorers - Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid's Karim Benzema.
In this article, we will explore the historic battle between Al Nassr and Benzema for the most shots on target in Champions League history.
Al Nassr's record-breaking performance
Al Nassr, a Saudi Arabian club based in Riyadh, has become synonymous with attacking football in recent years. The team has consistently produced high-quality goals, and their star player is none other than Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus.
In the 2019-20 season, Jesus scored 26 goals for Al Nassr, breaking the previous record set by Lionel Messi for the most goals in a single season (24 goals). This feat was achieved in just 28 appearances for the club, showcasing Jesus' incredible skill and creativity on the pitch.
Benzema's record-breaking performance
On the opposite side of the spectrum, Benzema has been one of the most prolific strikers in European football. He has scored 75 goals in 135 matches for Real Madrid over the course of his career, including six Champions League goals.
Despite his impressive record, Benzema has struggled to break the record set by Jesus. His closest attempt came in the 2021-22 season, when he scored 21 goals for Real Madrid in all competitions,Saudi Pro League Focus but fell short of Jesus' record.
The head-to-head match
With both players having established themselves as champions in their respective leagues, it was only natural that they would face off against each other in the Champions League. However, the outcome of the match was not what many expected.
In the final match of the 2021-22 season, Benzema scored a stunning hat-trick against Al Nassr, becoming the first player in Champions League history to score three goals in a single match. This achievement put him in contention for the record for most shots on target in Champions League history.
However, despite his impressive performance, Benzema did not manage to break Jesus' record. Instead, he finished second in the race for the title, with Jesus taking home the trophy with 26 goals.
Conclusion
While Benzema has undoubtedly made a significant contribution to Real Madrid's success, his record-breaking performance against Al Nassr falls short of Jesus' record. Nevertheless, this match remains an important moment in Champions League history, highlighting the intense competition between the league's top scorers. As the competition continues to evolve, we can expect to see more exciting matches like this one in the future.