Benzema injured in Real Madrid’s Champions League opener against Celtic

Benzema started limping and put his hand on his right knee before asking to be replaced in the 30th minute of the group stage match against Celtic.

Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema was substituted with an apparent knee injury against Celtic in the group stage match of the Champions League on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: Reuters

French striker Karim Benzema was substituted with an apparent knee injury in Real Madrid’s match against Celtic in the group stage of the Champions League on Tuesday.

Benzema started limping and put his hand on his right knee before asking to be replaced in the 30th minute. He put his hand on his face as he slowly walked off the field.

The 34-year-old Benzema is coming off his best season ever, when he was the leading scorer both in the Champions League and the Spanish league.

He scored 15 goals in the Champions League alone, including some decisive ones in the team’s remarkable run to its record 14th European title. Madrid also won the Spanish league last season.

Eden Hazard was introduced as a substitute for Benzema.