Benzema sparkles for Real
Source: Agencies |
March 14, 2011, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
KARIM Benzema scored twice to lead Real Madrid to a comfortable 2-0 home win over lowly Hercules in La Liga on Saturday as it rested players ahead of this week's visit of Olympique Lyon in the Champions League.
The in-form French striker netted in the 24th minute and doubled the lead with a superb solo effort just after the restart, making it eight goals in his last six matches.
Real moved on to 70 points from 28 games, closing to within four of leader Barcelona which was at Sevilla yesterday.
"We are used to looking at Cristiano Ronaldo's statistics but Benzema has now scored 19 goals (in all competitions), which is an important quantity," Real director general Jorge Valdano told Spanish television.
Third-placed Valencia's midweek exit from the Champions League appeared to have taken its toll as Unai Emery's side slumped to a 0-4 defeat at Real Zaragoza.
Jiri Jarosik, Ander Herrera and two penalties from Gabi sank the visitors, who finished with 10 men, to leave them on 54 points,.
Earlier, two goals from Sergio Aguero failed to earn Atletico Madrid a win at relegation-threatened Almeria, as the hosts twice fought back to level at 2-2. Atletico is seventh with 39 points.
The Hercules game had never promised to set the pulse racing, with both sides more concerned with battles to come - Real's in Europe and Hercules's to avoid relegation.
Real's quest to reach the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time in seven years requires it to build on a 1-1 first-leg draw against Lyon at the Bernabeu on Wednesday, and Jose Mourinho's lineup reflected that.
Top scorer Ronaldo and defender Ricardo Carvalho had been left out of the squad, the former to recover from a muscle strain, while Pepe and Xabi Alonso started on the bench.
Hercules slipped to 19th in the standings on 26 points behind Almeria on goal difference.
The in-form French striker netted in the 24th minute and doubled the lead with a superb solo effort just after the restart, making it eight goals in his last six matches.
Real moved on to 70 points from 28 games, closing to within four of leader Barcelona which was at Sevilla yesterday.
"We are used to looking at Cristiano Ronaldo's statistics but Benzema has now scored 19 goals (in all competitions), which is an important quantity," Real director general Jorge Valdano told Spanish television.
Third-placed Valencia's midweek exit from the Champions League appeared to have taken its toll as Unai Emery's side slumped to a 0-4 defeat at Real Zaragoza.
Jiri Jarosik, Ander Herrera and two penalties from Gabi sank the visitors, who finished with 10 men, to leave them on 54 points,.
Earlier, two goals from Sergio Aguero failed to earn Atletico Madrid a win at relegation-threatened Almeria, as the hosts twice fought back to level at 2-2. Atletico is seventh with 39 points.
The Hercules game had never promised to set the pulse racing, with both sides more concerned with battles to come - Real's in Europe and Hercules's to avoid relegation.
Real's quest to reach the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time in seven years requires it to build on a 1-1 first-leg draw against Lyon at the Bernabeu on Wednesday, and Jose Mourinho's lineup reflected that.
Top scorer Ronaldo and defender Ricardo Carvalho had been left out of the squad, the former to recover from a muscle strain, while Pepe and Xabi Alonso started on the bench.
Hercules slipped to 19th in the standings on 26 points behind Almeria on goal difference.
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