Karim Benzema was in a confident mood after scoring a brace that helped keep Real Madrid alive in their Champions League last-four tie against Manchester City and the French striker predicted his team would now qualify for the final.

“I warn our fans to be ready to see something magical, we will win the second leg at Santiago Bernabeu,” Benzema told Movistar Plus.

“Losing is never good and we care a lot about winning the Champions League this season.

“The thing is we never lowered our guard and kept fighting until the end.”

Benzema had steered home an expert finish in the first half and showed he had ice in his veins when the Spanish side were awarded a penalty in the final minutes of the game. The striker, who had missed twice from the spot at Osasuna last week, chipped his effort cheekily down the middle.

“I am a very confident man,” Benzema said with a smile.

City coach Pep Guardiola hailed the spectacular football his side played.

“For our fans all around the world and for Manchester City, we are so proud,” Guardiola told BT Sport.

Injuries bog down troubled United

Manchester United skipper Harry Maguire will miss their Premier League game with Chelsea owing to a knee issue while winger Jadon Sancho has also been ruled out with tonsillitis, interim boss Ralf Rangnick said on Wednesday.
United, whose hopes of finishing in the top four were dealt a massive blow on Saturday following their 3-1 loss to Arsenal, could also be missing right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka when they welcome third-placed Chelsea to Old Trafford on Thursday.
Rangnick’s side are also without the injured Edinson Cavani, Luke Shaw, Paul Pogba and Fred but the German said he wanted the sixth-placed team to finish the season strongly even though Champions League qualification is out of their hands.
“We have four more games to play, the next two are at home and we’ll try to get as many points and win as many games as we possibly can,” Rangnick told reporters. (Reuters)