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Karim Benzema has scored seven goals in his last eight games for Real Madrid. AP Photo / Bernat Armangue
Karim Benzema scored twice as Real Madrid rallied to beat relegation-threatened Elche 2-1 on Saturday, keeping the champion in touch with leader Atlético de Madrid in the La Liga title race.
A quiet first half saw Isco have a shot stopped, before Benzema opened Madrid’s best chance after Vinicius Junior found him in the area. Thibaut Courtois was called into action to clear Guido Carrillo’s header.
Benzema hit the side net after the break, and Sergio Ramos had a penalty appeal before Courtois attacked Carrillo again. Elche took the lead with a powerful header from Dani Calvo, and Madrid appeared to be in trouble before Benzema tied a cross from substitute Luka Modric and scored a sensational late-game winner.
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Positive
The return of Ramos, which lasted just over an hour, is a great advantage for the team at an important moment of the season, with the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 with Atalanta just around the corner from the corner. Ramos was not at his best, but his very presence is very valuable to the team, especially at times like these.
Madrid were able to dig deep and clinch victory despite rotating the team and giving tired players like Modric and Toni Kroos a much-needed break for the first hour. The midfielder pair have been almost always around this season, and this was the first La Liga game neither had appeared from the start.
Highlights
- Ramos: There is still no news about the future of Real Madrid. Atlético attacks Madrid on social networks. Barca looks at Agüero in the reconstruction after Messi; Chelsea ‘vindicated’ for Lampard firing
2 Related negatives
This was the third game in a row in which Real Madrid have been losing 1-0 – it happened against Real Sociedad and Atlético de Madrid as well – and that is not an encouraging trend. On all three occasions, the team has managed to save at least one point, or all three here, but they can’t keep making life so difficult and hoping to get away with it.
The performance of the first half was worrying, with a genuine lack of urgency and an apparent awareness of Madrid’s absolute need to grab all three points to stay in the fight for the title. Fortunately, that was later resolved as the team picked up the pace considerably when under pressure.
Manager rating out of 10
7 – Zinedine Zidane opted for a system change here, celebrating the return of Ramos by changing to an unknown three back. The first half was bad, Madrid had difficulties to break Elche, but Zidane reacted after the break with a series of substitutions that decisively tilted the game in his favor, incorporating Modric, Kroos and Rodrygo. The coach is not always qualified by his management in the game, but he deserves a lot of credit here.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players submitted after 70 minutes are not rated)
GK Thibaut Courtois, 7 – He made his usual big saves, went into action in the first half to set aside a center from Elche and then made another great save after the break.
DF Nacho, 6 – Played by the left of the three behind with the freedom to get ahead. He hit the net with a tremendous shot in the first half, but the whistle had already been for a foul.
DF Raphael Varane, 5 – Battered in the air by Calvo for Elche’s goal. Despite all his physical attributes, Varane sometimes seems passive in such situations.
DF Sergio Ramos, 6 – Back in the team after knee surgery five weeks ago. A little rusty, giving away the ball from the start. Engaged in debatable penalty shootouts at both ends of the field, he could have won one and given away another.
DF Ferland Mendy, 6 years old He started brilliantly on the left before fading with the team as the first half progressed, and then coming back as they chased the game to the death.
MF Casemiro, 8 – There is no need to rest as he is suspended for next week’s Champions League game with Atalanta. In addition to Benzema, he seemed the Real Madrid player with the best chances to score, getting into the area at every opportunity.
MF Federico Valverde, 6 – He didn’t seem to measure up in his first league start since December, playing to the right of a three in midfield. An early crossing that Isco couldn’t reach.
MF Isco, 6 – The bad luck of not appearing in the Madrid derby after impressing against Atalanta and Real Sociedad, but less striking here. He had a weak shot in the first half.
PW Vinicius Junior 6 – He played in attack with Benzema. A smart ball in the first half for Mendy. His best moment was the center from which Benzema should have opened the scoring. It faded later.
FROM Lucas Vázquez, 6 – Consistently impressive without standing out on the right. Their deliveries from outside often threaten, even if they contribute to Madrid crossing the ball more often than they should.
DEL Karim Benzema, 8 – Where would Madrid be without their 15 league goals? He followed up his crucial late goal in the Madrid derby with a successful draw here and then a better left-foot goal.
Substitutes
FW Rodrygo, 7 – He often seems more likely to score or create chances than Vinicius. An excellent cross.
MF Luka Modric, 7 years old – It made a difference immediately. He created the Madrid goal with his ball in the area for Benzema.
MF Toni Kroos, 6 – He missed a lot during the first hour, since Madrid lacked the fluidity that the German brings to the midfield.
FW Eden Hazard, NR – He replaced Vinicius and played the final 15 minutes in his first appearance since January 30.
Source: espn.co.uk
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