Benzema earns Real scrappy 1-0 win
Source: Agencies |
January 25, 2011, Tuesday
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KARIM Benzema went some way to justifying the 35 million euros (US$49 million) Real Madrid paid to sign him when his goal secured a scrappy 1-0 home win over Real Mallorca in La Liga on Sunday.
Under coach Jose Mourinho, the France international has started most games on the bench, scoring only one league goal before Sunday, and the club has said it is looking for another striker to replace the injured Gonzalo Higuain.
Real struggled to create chances against a gritty Mallorca, which held it to a 0-0 draw on the opening day of the season, and looked in danger of dropping points for a second successive game until Benzema netted in the 61st minute.
The former Olympique Lyon forward picked up a pass on the edge of the penalty area, created space for himself and sent a low shot past Mallorca keeper Dudu Aouate.
The win prevented Real from slipping further behind leader Barcelona, which was seven ahead before kickoff after beating Racing Santander 3-0 on Saturday.
Barcelona has 55 points from 20 matches, Real has 51 in second and Villarreal is third on 42 after a double from Italy striker Giuseppe Rossi gave it a 2-1 comeback win over visiting Real Sociedad in Sunday's late kickoff.
Overshadowed
Valencia is two points further back thanks to Saturday's 4-3 home win against nine-man Malaga.
Real Madrid's week had been overshadowed by media reports of a rift between Mourinho and club director general Jorge Valdano and some fans unfurled a banner with a message of support for their Portuguese coach.
With an eye on tomorrow's Copa del Rey semifinal first leg at holders Sevilla, Mourinho initially rested midfielders Xabi Alonso and Mesut Ozil and Michael Laudrup's well-drilled Mallorca side had the best of the early exchanges.
It came desperately close to a shock lead in the 13th minute when Emilio Nsue sped clear on the right but his powerful effort flew back off the inside of the post with Iker Casillas well beaten. There were whistles around the stadium when the teams went off goalless at halftime but the introduction of Alonso and Ozil, replacing Fernando Gago and Kaka, gave the hosts more bite and penetration after the break.
In Sunday's earlier game, Atletico Madrid's hopes of a Champions League place next season was dealt a blow when it lost 0-1 at struggling Sporting Gijon.
Under coach Jose Mourinho, the France international has started most games on the bench, scoring only one league goal before Sunday, and the club has said it is looking for another striker to replace the injured Gonzalo Higuain.
Real struggled to create chances against a gritty Mallorca, which held it to a 0-0 draw on the opening day of the season, and looked in danger of dropping points for a second successive game until Benzema netted in the 61st minute.
The former Olympique Lyon forward picked up a pass on the edge of the penalty area, created space for himself and sent a low shot past Mallorca keeper Dudu Aouate.
The win prevented Real from slipping further behind leader Barcelona, which was seven ahead before kickoff after beating Racing Santander 3-0 on Saturday.
Barcelona has 55 points from 20 matches, Real has 51 in second and Villarreal is third on 42 after a double from Italy striker Giuseppe Rossi gave it a 2-1 comeback win over visiting Real Sociedad in Sunday's late kickoff.
Overshadowed
Valencia is two points further back thanks to Saturday's 4-3 home win against nine-man Malaga.
Real Madrid's week had been overshadowed by media reports of a rift between Mourinho and club director general Jorge Valdano and some fans unfurled a banner with a message of support for their Portuguese coach.
With an eye on tomorrow's Copa del Rey semifinal first leg at holders Sevilla, Mourinho initially rested midfielders Xabi Alonso and Mesut Ozil and Michael Laudrup's well-drilled Mallorca side had the best of the early exchanges.
It came desperately close to a shock lead in the 13th minute when Emilio Nsue sped clear on the right but his powerful effort flew back off the inside of the post with Iker Casillas well beaten. There were whistles around the stadium when the teams went off goalless at halftime but the introduction of Alonso and Ozil, replacing Fernando Gago and Kaka, gave the hosts more bite and penetration after the break.
In Sunday's earlier game, Atletico Madrid's hopes of a Champions League place next season was dealt a blow when it lost 0-1 at struggling Sporting Gijon.
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