Karim Benzema scores twice to help Real Madrid down Hercules CF – La Liga news
Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid defeated Esteban Vigo’s Hercules CF 2-0 courtesy a Karim Benzema brace to close the gap to just four points on Barcelona in the Spanish La Liga.
The Los Blancos kept their 100 per cent record at home and have now won all the 14 matches played at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Real Madrid moved to 70 points and remain second in the Spanish League table. They are four points behind rivals http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604, having played a game more.
The hosts started the match without http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Sami-Khedira-c32325 started on the bench as Madrid prepared for the second leg of the knockout stage against Olympique Lyon in the UEFA Champions League.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Emmanuel-Adebayor-c12526 started upfront as the lone striker with Mesut Ozil playing just behind him as the second striker. Karim Benzema and Angel Di Maria provided the attacking edge from the respective wings.
The visitors started with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Abel-Aguilar-c3424 partnered Javier Farinos in the centre of midfield.
The hosts started the match brightly as expected, dominating possession and making surging runs forward. Di Maria witnessed the first real chance of the match for the home side in the sixth minute but his shot just went wide of the far post. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Esteban-c12907 Granero’s
free-kick in the 16th minute went just over the bar from just outside the box.
The Los Blancos broke the deadlock in the 24th minute through http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Álvaro-Arbeloa-c5282 on the right. The defender then found Benzema with a low cross which was put in easily by the Frenchman. The away side
created two back-to-back chances around the half hour mark with great efforts from Thomert and Kiko forcing superb saves by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Iker-Casillas-c16815.
The Madrid giants continued with the same momentum in the second half and Adebayor’s shot was denied by the woodwork just two minutes into the second period.
Madrid extended their lead in the 56th minute and Benzema scored his second of the night to put the hosts 2-0 ahead. It was a brilliant finish from the Frenchman as he guided a low shot past Juan Calatayud.
Mesut Ozil’s superb free kick half way into the second period was just tipped over by the Hercules goalkeeper to deny the hosts their third goal. The home side kept moving forward and went close to getting three goals on a number of occasions but Calatayud
made some impressive saves and the match finished 2-0.
Real Madrid were splendid and were also unlucky not to score more than two goals but securing three points was the most important thing.
Madrid reduced the gap to just four points from leaders Barcelona at least for a day as the Catalan giants play their match against Sevilla on Sunday.
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