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The French forward was unusually calm after electrifying weeks in front of goal.
Zinedine Zidane has no plans to rest Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema as he promised Eden Hazard would be back in top form for the match.
Benzema failed to register a single shot on goal in Madrid’s 2-0 win over Celta de Vigo in La Liga on Saturday and missed twice from good positions.
The 33-year-old has started 15 of Madrid’s 17 La Liga games this season and only goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Raphael Varane have played more minutes.
When asked in a post-match press conference whether Benzema, who has scored eight goals in La Liga, needed a break, following a somewhat jaded performance, Zidane disagreed.
“I don’t think he’s tired,” Zidane said. “I think he did well and I took him out so another player could play. We are in a great moment. We are doing the right things and we have to continue like this.”
Hazard came off the bench for another run late in the second half against Celta as he accelerated his comeback from an injury-hit start to the season.
“We are going to go little by little,” added Zidane. “Little by little you have to recover feelings.
“We have to take it easy and not force anything. He has to get back to his best and take it easy. That’s it.”
Madrid’s possession against Celta was 41%, the lowest recorded in a win with Zidane at home in all competitions.
The Madrid coach, however, was satisfied with the way his team managed the game against Celta.
“We played a complete game from start to finish,” Zidane explained.
“We controlled the game well, we had a good balance, when it came to pressing and recovering the ball, we did everything well.”
“You have to control when the rival team has strong moments in the game, but the feelings are good, out of nine games we won six and three draws.”
Goals from Lucas Vázquez and Marco Asensio gave Madrid the victory as they both assisted each other in what was the fourth duo to combine with each other in a single La Liga game this season.
Zidane added: “I am happy for Asensio. He had a major injury and now he is much better and improving every time.
“Vázquez is very reliable, very involved and I am happy for what he is doing. We played a very serious game. I am happy for everyone.”
