Benzema’s brace against Celta helps Real Madrid climb to 2nd in La Liga

Benzema’s brace against Celta helps Real Madrid climb to 2nd in La Liga

Real Madrid

Real Madrid came out comfortable 3-1 winners over Celta Vigo in the final La Liga match before the international break. Real Madrid ‘s win now sees them just 3 points off Atletico Madrid who still have a game in hand over Los Blancos.

Karim Benzema continued his superb goal scoring form to hand Madrid all 3 points against a tough Celta Vigo side in Balaidos. Marco Asensio’s final minute tap-in added sheen to Real Madrid’s score line and secured the win.

Karim Benzema is Madrid’s leading goal scorer this season and 3rd in the Pichichi race with 17 goals

Zidane started almost the same line-up against Celta with the sole change being Casemiro returned in place of the injured Sergio Ramos. However, they played the 4-3-3 this time as opposed to the 3-5-2 system which Zidane deployed in their Champions league game against Atalanta.

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Benzema started Madrid’s scoring in the 20th minute when Kroos found the striker in a pocket of space and the Frenchman put it into the bottom-right corner. The Kroos Benzema connection paid off once again when Celta Vigo tried to play out from the back and faltered.

Kroos pressurized Tapia and won back possession just inside the Celta penalty box and once again found Benzema who scored his 2nd and doubled Madrid’s advantage. Celta reduced the deficit by a goal just before the half-time interval when Santi Mina headed home from a corner.

Celta started the second half with more intensity and created a few chances as Madrid failed to retain possession. However, Madrid had chances to score themselves on the counter as Celta left large spaces behind them in going for the equalizer.

Madrid’s efforts finally paid off when Asensio scored Madrid’s goal with what happened to be the last kick of the game. Benzema, Vinicius and Asensio all thudded forward when the Frenchman picked up the ball in the Celta half. Benzema unselfishly fed Asensio the ball in front of goal who could not miss from their as the keeper was already beaten.

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