Birthday Boy Karim Benzema a Vital Cog in the Real Madrid Winning Machine

Karim Benzema put in a man-of-the-match performance in Real Madrid’s 4-0 win over Cruz Azul in Tuesday’s FIFA Club World Cup semi-final and will hope to have a similarly decisive impact in Saturday’s final against San Lorenzo.

The France international scored Madrid’s second goal of the match with a close-range finish, played a part in the build-up to the third goal and generally impressed with his clever movement and link-up play. He made a strong contribution to the club’s 21st consecutive victory.

Former Madrid coach Fabio Capello recently described the current side as a "machine," in an interview with Onda Cero radio (h/t Football Espana), and Friday is a special day for Benzema, one of the vital cogs in that machine.

Benzema endured a difficult start to the campaign. He scored just twice in Madrid’s first 10 fixtures in all competitions and was booed by sections of the Bernabeu crowd after missing a couple of good chances in their league defeat to local rivals Atletico Madrid.

Yet, even when the goals weren’t coming, coach Carlo Ancelotti still emphasised, as per Dermot Corrigan of ESPN FC, that he was more than happy with Benzema’s overall contribution to the team.

And following his match-winning goal off the bench in the 2-1 victory away to Ludogorets at the start of October, Benzema has started to provide both goals and assists. He has become both facilitator and finisher.

Per Alvaro de la Rosa of AS, Benzema has scored 14 goals and provided 10 assists in 23 appearances in all competitions so far this season. Eleven of those 14 goals have been scored following his winner against Ludogorets.

To date, only Cristiano Ronaldo and Toni Kroos have played more minutes than the France international—an indication of the faith Ancelotti has in him.

Indeed, this Madrid team would likely function much less effectively without Benzema at its head. The variety of his play—sometimes dropping off, sometimes peeling off into the channels, sometimes acting as a back-to-goal reference—keeps opposition defences guessing and helps create space for his fellow forwards Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

The number of passes he received and where he received them in Real's 3-0 victory over Liverpool earlier this season, as per FourFourTwo Stats Zone, illustrates the scope of his movement:

Courtesy of FourFourTwo Stats Zone

Benzema has established a particularly strong relationship with Ronaldo. Each has assisted the other on four occasions so far this season, and Ronaldo has spoken glowingly of his colleague.

With all this in mind, it is hard to imagine that there is any substance in the continuing rumours, propagated by Spanish journalist Manuel Esteban (h/t David Wright of the Express), that Madrid are willing to let Benzema leave the Bernabeu.

Especially as he has finally won over his remaining doubters inside the club, as per Santiago Siguero of Marca. At 27, Benzema looks to be at the peak of his powers and certainly deserves to be considered one of Europe’s very best forwards.

Next up for Benzema and Madrid are Copa Libertadores holders San Lorenzo in Saturday’s Club World Cup final in Marrakech.

The San Lorenzo defence is more accustomed to dealing with a stationary No. 9—someone the players can stick close to and gradually wear down over the course of a match. With his excellent movement and combination play, Benzema is exactly the sort of the striker the defenders will not be looking forward to coming up against.

Benzema will have a key role to play as Madrid seek to win their second trophy of the season. Come the final whistle on Saturday, it is highly probable that a late birthday present will await him: a Club World Cup winners' medal.