Real Madrid appears to be close to finalizing the signing of France striker Karim Benzema from Lyon. The deal could be worth up to EUR41m.

Real Madrid have been unstoppable since Cristiano Ronaldo left. With his selfless nature, Benzema serves as the glue that holds the team together.

1. Goals

Since Ronaldo's departure, Benzema has emerged as an essential member of Real Madrid's squad. He helped them win the Champions League and is currently putting in a superb performance in La Liga.

He has also tailored his game to the team's new style of play, leading to more goals - which are essential for their success in La Liga and the Champions League.

Real Madrid have scored six goals in his last six matches, showing why he's being compared to the Ballon d'Or winner. With Los Blancos trailing Barcelona by 12 points in La Liga, he could be an important factor for Los Blancos moving forward.

2. Goalkeeping

Goalkeepers are essential members of any soccer team, responsible for making sure the ball does not slip past their defenders and into the net. Furthermore, they have a significant role in directing on-field strategy.

Before any goalkeeper can begin their duties, they must take a quick glance around to check for any potential attackers that may be lurking. After doing this, the goalkeeper needs to decide how he or she will release the ball to his teammates.

Keepers must know how to effectively prepare for a high ball in the penalty area. This involves quickly shuffling their feet without crossing them in order to find an advantageous position to meet the ball and make a save.

3. Linking play

Benzema has long been recognized as one of Europe's premier forwards, but his recent form is a testament to his growing intelligence on the field. Not only has his goal scoring improved, but his creative ability is even better than before.

His improved skill set is best illustrated through link-up play, which has become a cornerstone of Real Madrid's game plan. A smooth combination between a dropping centre-forward and teammate in deeper positions often proves most effective for breaking down stubborn defenses.

No longer scoring as many goals as he used to at Lyon, Benzema remains one of the greatest players in soccer. His technical ability and incredible finishing remain on par, making him a force that must be reckoned with.

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4. Off-the-ball movement

Off-ball movement is an essential element of football but often underrated. It involves scanning your environment, creating space, timing your movements correctly and communicating clearly with teammates and opponents.

Strikers possess a crucial weapon: short passing and quick counterattacks. In today's fast-paced world, it could mean the difference between scoring goals and letting defenders swarm in and shut you down.

In his early years at Madrid, Benzema often drifted wide to connect with Isco between the lines and create overloads on the wings. He also moved forward to make runs inside the box that helped link plays together and provide goalscoring chances for others.

5. Crosses

Christian crosses are an iconic part of Christian art, available in a range of designs and materials such as wood, steel or stone. Some even contain semi-precious gems such as mother of pearl, paua shell or colored glass for visual impact.

Since Cristiano Ronaldo's departure, Benzema has grown into an essential player for Real Madrid in their attack. His versatility and deadly finishing prowess have cemented his place as one of the team's mainstays.

This week, Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first-ever hat trick against Barcelona to break a tie with Raul for third most goals in team history. It's an enormous boost for Real as they aim to claim silverware in Spain.

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