Lionel Messi and Karim Benzema are the biggest threats to Premier League clubs in UEFA club competitions.
The Premier League has been rated as one of best and competitive leagues in the world but when the clubs from the league come against the firepower of Lionel Messi and Karim Benzema, they are usually humbled.
The two Ballon d’Or winners have been nightmares to English clubs in Europe’s elite club competition since becoming two of the biggest names in football.
Lionel Messi and Karim Benzema have scored over 20 goals each against Premier League clubs in UEFA club competitions.
Karim Benzema has particularly been a top threat to English clubs in the Champions League of recent.
In 2021/22 Champions League, Karim Benzema led the rout against Premier League clubs in the quarterfinals and semifinals of the tournament.
Benzema scored a hat-trick in Real Madrid’s first leg 3-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
In the second leg, he scored the winning goal in extra time to bundle out the Blues from the competition and set up a semifinal clash against Manchester City.
Against Manchester City at Etihad, Karim Benzema bagged a brace as the Los Blancos settled for a 4-3 defeat against the Premier League champions.
In the return leg, Karim Benzema scored a spotkick to become the first France international to score 7 Champions League knockout goals against Premier League clubs.
In the 2022/23 Champions League, Karim Benzema has continued in his rout against English clubs.
Against Liverpool in round 16 at Anfield, Karim Benzema bagged a brace to seal a 5-2 away win for Los Blancos. He also scored in the second leg as the Laliga giants completed a double over Reds.
Against Chelsea in quarterfinal, Karim Benzema opened the scoring for Real Madrid as they ran out 2-0 winners over the Blues.
The former France international has now increased his Champions League goal tally against English clubs to 20 goals, seven less than Lionel Messi, who has 27 goals.
Lionel Messi against English clubs
Lionel Messi has played more club games against Chelsea than any other club in European club competitions but has scored only three times against them in the 2017/18 Champions League season.
He has scored more goals against Arsenal than any other club in Europe, netting nine times against the Gunners.
Messi has scored 7 times against Manchester City, 4 times against Manchester United, 2 times against Liverpool, and 2 times against Tottenham.
His total tally against English teams in UEFA club competitions is 27 while Karim Benzema has 20 goals.
