Benzema escapes unharmed from car accident

Real Madrid's French striker Karim Benzema escaped unharmed after he lost control of his car and collided with a security barrier and a tree over the weekend, Spanish media reported on Tuesday.

The player, who turns 22 later this month, was on his way home from Real Madrid's 1-0 Spanish league defeat to arch-rivals Barcelona when the accident happened in the suburbs of the Spanish capital, the reports said.

Benzema was driving at speeds of less than 50 km (30 miles) an hour when the accident occurred and the airbags of his Audi were activated, sports daily AS said.

He was introduced with half an hour remaining at the Nou Camp on Sunday night as Real surrendered the top spot in La Liga to the defending Spanish and European champions.

Benzema, the top scorer in the French league in 2007 and 2008, has struggled to impress since he joined Real from French side Lyon in July for $52.5 million having scored four goals in 13 games for the Spanish club.