Real Madrid drew with Elche in the La Liga fixture, but striker Karim Benzema had one of his worst days on and off the pitch. The 34-year-old missed his penalty against Elche in the 32nd minute. It marked Benzema’s first penalty miss during his career with the Spanish giants. He also started facing some discomfort early in the second half of the game and asked to be taken off in the 58th minute. 

Benzema was seen limping off the pitch and grabbing the back of his leg, seeming to have injured his hamstring. The French footballer has been Madrid’s star player this season, leading with 24 goals. He’s also the highest-scoring player in the Spanish league, with 17 goals, five more than any other player.

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The partnership with Vinícius Júnior has also worked out well, and the duo has given several defenders a difficult time when it comes to containment. However, Benzema struggled to find his footing in the game against Elche, and even before the penalty miss, he squandered a chance where he only had the goalkeeper to beat. 

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The bad streak of luck followed him off the pitch as well, since Benzema returned to find his home had been burgled during the match. As per reports, the thieves broke into the house in San Sebastián de los Reyes in Madrid, but no one else was present. There has been no news about what was taken, but sources told AFP that when Benzema found his house a complete mess and realized what had happened, he called the police. Benzema’s house had previously been burgled as well, during an El Clasico fixture in February 2019. 

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While Benzema was supposed to undergo further testing on Monday, to determine the extent of his injury, the frontman will have some time to recover thanks to the international break, which puts the next Real Madrid fixture on February 4, where the Los Blancos will face Athletic Club in the Copa del Rey quarter-final. 

[Edited with AP inputs]