Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has reiterated his faith in stuttering striker Karim Benzema after another frustrating performance was registered in last night’s enthralling 2-1 Club World Cup semi-final victory against Al Jazira.

Benzema was roundly booed at Zayed Sports City when substituted for eventual match winner Gareth Bale after a scoreless display which featured a first-half header ruled out by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) and striking the woodwork twice in succession past the hour mark.

A failure to net – during a match in which Romarinho’s stunning opener was eventually cancelled out by Cristiano Ronaldo and the aforementioned Welshman – continued his frustrating 2017/18 campaign, featuring just five goals in 18 appearances.

When quizzed about the 29-year-old’s form Zidane bounced to his defence.

“No, Karim is okay,” he said of his fellow Frenchman, ahead of the weekend showpiece against Copa Libertadores champions Gremio of Brazil.

“He didn’t score a goal, but he’s doing fine.

“Some people think about the goal already and have to always score. Karim in the end had a good match.

“He moved and created a lot of occasions to score. He and [Cristiano] Ronaldo, all the forward players.

“I am a little bit disappointed [for him] he didn’t score as he really wanted to, as always.

“We are going to think about the game on Saturday, but I’m happy with the performances of all of them.”

Madrid were unexpectedly forced to battle against ailing Arabian Gulf League champions Jazira, for whom several senior players were absent through injury and off-field issues.

Zidane urged his side to “reach a high level” in the showpiece at the same stadium if a third Club World Cup in four years is to be attained against skilled Brazilian opponents.

He said: “Well, we saw the match yesterday and we saw another match from before. I know this team as I have seen some matches.

“But I do not really know the league of Brazil well, I don’t see it every day. I can say they are a good footballing team and we will have to reach a high level to be competitive.

“In football, there is no easy match.”

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