Goal after objective, Karim Benzema retains placing his World Cup disappointment behind him.
Benzema scored for the sixth time after being dropped from France’s World Cup squad due to an damage, main Real Madrid to a 2-0 win at Athletic Bilbao within the Spanish league on Sunday.
“He came back with the same quality,” Madrid coach Carlos Ancelotti mentioned.
“He helps us a lot in attack.” The objective allowed Benzema to hitch former Madrid nice Raúl with 228 league objectives with the membership — second to Cristiano Ronaldo’s 311. It additionally helped Madrid get again inside three factors of league chief Barcelona, which earlier Sunday had defeated Getafe 1-0 on the Camp Nou.
Toni Kroos sealed the victory for Madrid with a low shot from outdoors the realm within the ninetieth.
Benzema’s sixth objective in six matches for the reason that World Cup got here with a left-footed volley from inside the realm within the twenty fourth minute at San Mames Stadium.
“It’s incredible. Karim has been spectacular,” Madrid defender Nacho mentioned.
“He continues to help us with his goals, just like he did last season.” Benzema received the boys’s Ballon d’Or award after a fantastic season and had excessive expectations heading into the World Cup, however he was dropped from France’s squad due to a thigh damage sustained in coaching simply days earlier than the group’s debut.
The solely sport through which he had not scored after the World Cup was in Madrid’s 3-2 come-from-behind win at Villarreal within the spherical of 16 of the Copa del Rey on Thursday.
Eighth-place Athletic had superior previous Espanyol within the Copa however stays winless in three consecutive league video games. It misplaced the Basque Country derby to Real Sociedad within the earlier spherical.
Madrid had not received a league sport since December.
Barcelona wins
Barcelona defeated relegation-threatened Getafe to increase its profitable streak to 3 matches in all competitions.
Pedri scored a first-half winner for the Catalan membership, which has received 4 of its final 5 matches, with its solely setback a draw towards Real Betis within the semifinals of the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, the place it superior in a penalty shootout earlier than ultimately profitable the title in a last towards Madrid.
“We didn’t play well but it was an important victory,” Barcelona coach Xavi mentioned.
Getafe gamers did the guard of honor earlier than the match on the Camp Nou due to Barcelona’s Super Cup title. Captain Sergio Busquets additionally was honored for having surpassed 700 appearances with the Catalan membership.
Barcelona defeated Getafe regardless of enjoying with out suspended striker Robert Lewandowski, the league’s main scorer. The Poland participant was serving the second of a three-game suspension for disrespecting a referee in a league sport final 12 months.
Forward Ferran Torres additionally wasn’t obtainable for Barcelona coach Xavi due to a red-card suspension.
Pedri scored the profitable objective from shut vary after an help from Raphinha within the thirty fifth minute.
Getafe has misplaced 4 in a row, together with three consecutive within the league. The Madrid membership has solely 4 league victories and sits in sixteenth place, simply outdoors the relegation zone.
Late penalties for Villarreal
Villarreal transformed one penalty kick and missed one other in stoppage time in a 1-0 dwelling win over Girona.
Striker Gerard Moreno had his spot kick saved 4 minutes into added time, however playmaker Dani Parejo transformed his try within the last play of the sport within the 111th minute.
The late win left Villarreal in fifth place, tied on factors with fourth-place Atletico Madrid, which holds the ultimate qualification spot for the Champions League.
Mid-table Girona performed a person down from the 78th as defender Santiago Bueno was despatched off with a second yellow card.
Villarreal was coming off a 3-2 dwelling loss towards Real Madrid within the spherical of 16 of the Copa del Rey, when it squandered a two-goal first-half lead. It had overwhelmed Madrid 2-1 two rounds in the past within the league, then drew 1-1 at Celta Vigo.
Last-place Elche drew 1-1 with seventh-place Osasuna at dwelling to stay the one group but to win after 18 Spanish league video games this season.
