Real Madrid's Karim Benzema Finally Blossoming into One of Europe's Finest

The Real Madrid faithful inside the Bernabeu have never been an easy lot to please. Perhaps more than any other, that's been especially true for Karim Benzema. 

An often polarising striker, the Frenchman has found meeting the expectations in the Spanish capital—the sort born from the precedent set by prolific goalscorers such as Alfredo Di Stefano, Raul, Ferenc Puskas, Hugo Sanchez and Cristiano Ronaldo—impossibly difficult to meet, seeing him become a maligned figure in Madrid and an outlet for public frustration. 

As recently as September, Benzema was jeered and whistled off the pitch as Los Blancos went down 2-1 to their crosstown rivals, Atletico Madrid, fuelling the perception that Real needed a No. 9 of a higher calibre. 

Two months, nine appearances, nine goals and five assists later, and suddenly you'd be hard-pressed to find someone inside the Bernabeu who still holds on to such a view. 

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

On Tuesday against Liverpool, Benzema's love affair with the Champions League continued as he put in a man-of-the-match performance to steer Carlo Ancelotti's men past the plucky Reds. 

Of course, it was his 27th-minute strike from Marcelo's cross that ultimately proved decisive, but it was his sublime work outside the penalty area—the stuff that so often goes unnoticed—that really stood out, suggesting the Frenchman is blossoming into a truly complete striker and, just maybe, one of the finest on the continent. 

On the edge of the box, he sumptuously teed up James Rodriguez for an early shot that forced a fine save from Simon Mignolet. In the 10 minutes that followed, Ronaldo and Toni Kroos both launched attempts on the Liverpool goal after being set up by Benzema. 

As half-time approached, he dropped a delightful chip onto the left boot of Marcelo, whose thumping strike was again saved by the Reds' goalkeeper, before affording Ronaldo another chance to equal Raul's Champions League goalscoring record just prior to the break.

More of the same continued after the interval, and though Ronaldo endured an unusually rough night in front of goal, he had no shortage of supply with Benzema consistently feeding him after Luka Modric and Isco had prised the Liverpool midfield open. 

When he was eventually withdrawn in the 87th minute, Real's surging striker left to a standing ovation—the Bernabeu hasn't always been so kind—after securing the night's only goal and creating a game-high eight chances, per Squawka. 

In short, he was the best player on the pitch. And it wasn't even close.  

What's most noticeable in the Frenchman's play at present is the freedom he appears to be carrying. In previous seasons, the former Lyon star has performed his work with—if you asked Arsene Wenger to describe it—the handbrake on. 

But in his current prolific run, there's been a flowing confidence that's grown considerably; he suddenly looks to be the sort of striker both his size and technical ability had always suggested he could be. 

"Benzema is enjoying a good run of form, I don't know if it is the best of his career, but it is his best form since I have been here," Ancelotti said after Tuesday's victory, per Real Madrid's official website. "I really like how he works for the team, he is a really important player for us." 

Ancelotti's praise for his striker has been ever-present, even throughout some of his leaner spells in front of goal. But one senses even the normally unmoved Italian has been taken aback by the streak of his No. 9, going as far to remark after his team's El Clasico win over Barcelona that "Benzema is on fire," per Goal, even though he was initially reluctant to single out individuals.  

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Certainly, the Frenchman's tally isn't quite as staggering as Ronaldo's at this point in the season (whose is?), but Ancelotti's statement is no less accurate. 

At his current pace, Benzema will easily record a 30-goal season in all competitions (he could go as high as 40) assuming he remains fit and injury free. Suddenly, there's a lethal edge to the forward's play—he's always been an effective central fulcrum, but now heavy scoring is being added to the mix. 

For so long, we've lamented the inability of his various physical gifts to combine to form a magnificent striking cocktail. For so long, he's felt like football's most prominent nearly man, a player on the cusp of the elite but habitually falling short. 

But no longer. Benzema is blossoming with Real Madrid and is rapidly establishing himself as one of Europe's finest.