Benzema double keeps Real in Barcelona slipstream
A delightful back-heel from Jose Maria Gutierrez set up Karim Benzema
for the first of a brace as Real Madrid, without suspended Cristiano
Ronaldo, beat Deportivo La Coruna 3-1 on Saturday.
The win kept Real five points behind Barcelona who had earlier
defeated Sporting Gijon 1-0 to stay top of La Liga in a game which also
saw the champions reach the 50-goal mark for the league season.
Esteban Granero headed Real ahead after 13 minutes with the game
played out in the home side’s half at the Riazor where the Madrid giants
had not won for almost 20 years.
With Felipe Luis injured, Manuel Pablo moved to the left-hand side
and the defence never looked comfortable especially against the pace of
Benzema.
Raul Gonzalez had the chance to add to the lead with a close-range
volley before a moment of real quality from Guti.
Through on goal instead of shooting on his weaker right foot, he
back-heeled the ball into the path of Benzema to slot home.
Deportivo had their chances in the second half as Real took their
foot off the gas and in a late rally Ivan Riki scored a penalty. The
last word though was from Benzema who wrapped up the scoring in injury
time.
Barcelona stayed top after Pedro Rodriguez scored the only goal in a
1-0 win over Sporting Gijon.
Mate Bilic went close with a header for the home side before Pedro
put the visitors ahead with a clinical finish from a defence-breaking
through ball by Andres Iniesta on the 30-minute mark.
It was the quality in attack which was the real difference between
the sides and especially in the second half where Barca had a number of
chances to extend their lead.
However, both Lionel Messi and Pedro were guilty of glaring misses.
A Luis Garcia strike saw Espanyol overcome Athletic Bilbao 1-0 in a
scrappy match to give them breathing space at the bottom of La Liga
earlier Saturday.
The home side dominated from the start a match in which injury-hit
Athletic were never able to get into their stride.
They lost playmaker Fran Yeste after 18 minutes while Ustaritz
Aldekoaotalora battled through the first half with a head injury before
eventually being substituted after the break.
The Athletic keeper Gorka Iraizoz made a couple of important
interventions in the first half but he was powerless to block Garcia’s
close-range winner on 58 minutes after good work from Javi Marquez down
the left wing.
The result moves Espanyol six points clear of the relegation zone but
for Athletic, who are chasing a place in Europe, they have now lost
back-to-back games.
Despite only managing a draw away to lowly Tenerife, Valencia are
well placed to qualify for the Champions League but on Sunday they face
a crucial game against fellow aspirants Sevilla who have dropped off the
pace since Christmas after losing three of their last four matches.
Mallorca continue to be the real surprise this season as they fight
among the top four in the championship.
They showed their resilience to draw with Espanyol last weekend after
going a goal down and now will be looking for victory against bottom
side Xerez, who are really struggling to pick up any points at the
moment.
BARCELONA, Sunday (AFP) |