Karim of the crop vindicates Zidane

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane heaped praise on Karim Benzema after his compatriot inspired the European champion to a 3-1 Champions League comeback victory over Napoli on Wednesday.

The first-leg victory put Madrid on the brink of a seventh successive European Cup quarterfinal as it aims to become the first team to retain the trophy in the Champions League era.

Lorenzo Insigne's clever 40-yard strike after just eight minutes gave Napoli the early lead at Santiago Bernabeu.