Benzema photographer: "I could feel the storm coming on"

AS English spoke with Laurence Griffiths and the Getty Images photographer talked us through the inspiration behind his picture of Karim Benzema at the Vicente Calderon on Tuesday as his touchline trickery led to Real Madrid's only but decisive goal.

Full screen

Was Tuesday's match your first game at the Calderon? 

I've covered a few Atletico home games in the past and have to say that I love the old school aesthetic and feel of the Calderon.

Your photograph has plenty of space and the players are not the focal element. Was that your intention when taking the picture? 

I was trying to capture the essence of a Madrid derby and a Champions League semi-final at the same time. l was also aware that a storm was imminent so my intention was also to reflect that in the photo with the stadium lightning.  

Do you always position yourself in the same area of the ground?

Getty had two photographers at the game and we decided on positioning before the match. One never knows how a game will pan out but I have to say I went home extremely happy with the pictures.

How doers it feel knowing that your photograph has become a social media phenomenon with the picture now converted into a "work of art"?  

My intention was to capture everything, the fans, the stadium, some of the best photos are not of key action moments. For example I captured Isco the instant after scoring but I don't think that picture will be talked about in fifty years' time.