Madrid: Spain's press on Wednesday hailed out-of-favour striker Karim Benzema who scored seconds after coming on to earn Real Madrid a 1-1 draw against his former club Lyon in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie.
‘Golden Goal Benzema,’ headlined the sports daily AS.
"Madrid's first goal in Lyon, a goal that rehabilitates Benzema ... a goal that made up in part for Madrid's two shots that hit the goalposts in the challenging second half, a goal that makes the return match a downhill ride," it said.
The paper said the France striker deserves ‘an apology.’
"A year and a half ago (Real chairman Florentino Perez) traveled to Lyon to recruit a striker who failed to fit in. At least until Tuesday. Like no other player, he had made a significant personal effort."
‘Quarter-finals in sight,’ was the front-page headline in rival daily Marca.
"Benzema breaks half of his curse," it said.
"Benzema is the most cost-effective scorer in the Champions League, a competition in which he is proving to be star. He has scored a goal every 60 minutes, a rate that is better even than Nicolas Anelka .... Samuel Eto’o or Leo Messi to name a few of the big names on the continent."
Benzema, who left Lyon for the Spanish capital two years ago, scored within seconds of coming on to replace Emmanuel Adebayor in the 64th minute on Tuesday night.
He thus became the first Real player to score at Lyon in the Champions League, but a late equaliser from Bafetimbi Gomis meant the seven-time French champions preserved their unbeaten record against the Spanish heavyweights.
The 23-year-old has been unable to nail down a first-team place at Real since his 35-million-euro move from Lyon in the summer of 2009.
The striker has scored just three times in La Liga this season, despite the long-term absence of Real's Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain with a back complaint.
And Adebayor was signed last month from Manchester City to help fill the gap at the front alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.
‘Benzema, better, better, better,’ said Spain's leading daily ‘El Pais’.
"The goal gives a chance to his team for the second leg at the Bernabeu."
Nine-time winners Real have fallen at the last 16 stage in each of their last six seasons, and Lyon eliminated Real 2-1 at this stage of the competition last season.