Real Madrid 2-0 Alaves: Benzema nets penalty before setting up Asensio as hosts

On Jul 11, 2020

There was another penalty and another VAR decision that went their way, but Real Madrid will point to both being correct, and to the fact that their 2-0 win over Alaves takes them to within just two more wins of the league title.

Sergio Ramos watched from the stands of the Alfredo di Stefano stadium as Karim Benzema stepped up to take the spot kick in his absence.

He sent Roberto Jimenez the wrong way to score the opening goal after Ferland Mendy had been tripped just inside the box by Ximo Navarro.

Real Madrid restored their four-point lead at the top of LaLiga with an eighth consecutive victory on Friday night

MATCH FACTS

Real Madrid (4-3-3): Courtois; Vazquez, Militao, Varane, Mendy; Kroos, Casemiro (Diaz 90+4), Modric (Valverde 70′); Rodrygo (Isco 82′), Benzema (Hazard 82′), Asensio (Vinicius Junior 70′)

Subs not used: Areola, Bale, Mariano, Altube, Hernandez, Gutierrez

Booked: None

Goals: Benzema pen 11′, Asensio 50′

Alaves (4-4-2): Jimenez; Navarro (Aguirregabiria 23′), Laguardia, Ely, Marin; Burke, Camarasa, Fejsa (Abdallahi 55′), Mendez (Sainz 68′); Perez (Rioja 55′), Joselu (JL Rodriguez 69′)

Subs not used: Magallan, Pina, Navarro, Garcia Sanchez, Pons, Castro, De la Fuente

Booked: Abdallahi

Goals: None

Referee: Jesus Gil Manzano (first half), Hector Rodriguez (second half)

This was, on paper, Real Madrid’s easiest game of the run-in but they did have to beat free-falling Alaves without their captain, without first choice Dani Carvajal – who watched alongside Ramos – and the injured Marcelo.

The Brazilian’s replacement Mendy was man of the first half and almost forced a second goal when Victor Camarasa nearly inadvertently turned his cross past his own keeper.

Oliver Burke was lively for Alaves who had winger Lucas filling in at right back but Madrid led at the break. Their rivals had lost their last five games and sacked their coach last weekend. They are now just three points above relegation.

Madrid were two-up five minutes into the second half although they had to wait for VAR to give the goal.

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema was once again key to the victory, scoring from the penalty spot in the first half

Benzema made no mistake from the spot and scored his 18th goal of the season and Madrid’s 10th LaLiga penalty this season

Rodrygo Goes slipped the ball through to Benzema and he unselfishly teed-up Marco Asensio who scored. Benzema was given offside but he had been played on by Victor Laguardia, and the decision was corrected.

It was fourth official Hector Rodriguez who conversed with VAR and drew the imaginary TV screen in the sky having switched with the injured Jesus Gil Manzano at half time.

Thibaut Courtois saved from Joselu but Madrid stayed on top and both Lucas Vazquez and Rodrygo had the chance to make it 3-0.

The Frenchman then turned provider and allowed Marco Asensio to tap into an empty net early in the second half

Real’s second goal in the 50th minute was initially ruled offside…