Elche 0-3 Real Madrid: Karim Benzema celebrates Ballon d'Or award with goal in win for Carlo Ancelotti's side
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Updated 19/10/2022 at 21:41 GMT
It's been a good week for Karim Benzema after the Real Madrid forward topped off his Ballon d'Or triumph with a goal for his side in a comfortable 3-0 win at Elche. The result took Los Blancos six points clear in La Liga after their defeat of nearest rivals Barcelona in last weekend's Clasico. Fede Valverde and Marco Asensio were the other goalscorers for Carlo Ancelotti's team.
Ancelotti happy for Benzema, questions exclusions from Ballon d'Or list
Real Madrid have extended their lead at the top of La Liga to six points after beating Elche 3-0.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side arrived at the Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero on a high, having defeated Barcelona 3-1 in El Clasico at the weekend to overhaul their rivals at the summit of the table.
They also boasted a second Ballon d’Or winner in their ranks, with Karim Benzema joining Luka Modric in football’s most exclusive club on Monday.
The man of the moment had the ball in the back of the net with five minutes on the clock, only to see the goal chalked off on account of Vinicius Junior straying narrowly offside before laying on the final ball.
Real had made an absolutely relentless start, however, and scored the opener soon afterwards when Federico Valverde lashed past Elche goalkeeper Edgar Badia from outside the area.
Benzema was again thwarted by the linesman’s flag around the 25-minute mark, this time after setting up David Alaba. It would have been a beautiful team goal – Alaba cutting in off the left and playing a one-two with Valverde, then another with Benzema, before smashing the ball into the far corner – but Real’s No. 9 was centimetres offside in the build-up.
Elche had a promising spell after that, Nicolas Fernandez unleashing a thunderbolt from distance which Andriy Lunin pushed round the far post with his fingertips. Tete Morente almost got in behind after another dangerous attack, but Alaba did well to make a last-ditch interception.
The hosts made a fast start to the second half, Lucas Boye hooking a shot over the crossbar from close range before Morente saw a fierce drive blocked by Antonio Rudiger.
Real soon reasserted themselves, Benzema forcing Badia into a diving save from distance.
The visitors had a hat-trick of disallowed goals after 60 minutes when Dani Carvajal picked out Benzema with a cross and, having shown lovely close control to bring down the ball, he fired home from close range. Unfortunately, this time, Carvajal was the man in an offside position.
Finally, with 75 minutes gone, Benzema got his goal. A lovely passing move ended with him playing a trademark one-two with Rodrygo before slotting into the bottom left-hand corner.
There was no way back for Elche, who conceded a third to Marco Asensio late on and remain bottom of La Liga, without a win, after 10 games.
Real, meanwhile, are temporarily six points clear at the top, at least until Barcelona host Villarreal at Camp Nou on Thursday evening.
TALKING POINT
Benzema’s irresistible narrative. Despite being hampered all game by the offside flag, it felt inevitable when Benzema got his name on the scoresheet.
Mere days after his Ballon d’Or triumph, the gravitational pull of the narrative was enough to guide the ball into the back of the net. Well, that and the awesome power of his right boot.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Rodrygo (Real Madrid). While Benzema is the obvious choice, Rodrygo’s performance was similarly excellent.
He ended the game with two assists, having set up Benzema’s goal in style before providing the cross for Asensio’s volley. On top of that, Elche’s defenders found his movement off the ball almost impossible to deal with and, whenever the hosts threatened a resurgence, he helped to put them on the back foot again.
PLAYER RATINGS
Elche: Badia 6, Clerc 4, Bigas 5, Verdu 5, Palacios 5, Mascarell, 6, Fernandez 6, Milla 4, Guti 4, Morente 6, Boye 4
Subs: Gumbau 5, Josan 4, Ponce 4, Quina 4
Real Madrid: Lunin 8, Carvajal 5, Militao 7, Rudiger 7, Alaba 7, Valverde 8, Kroos 6, Modric 7, Rodrygo 9, Benzema 9, Vinicius 7
Subs: Tchouameni 6, Asensio 7, Camavinga 6, Vazquez N/A, Nacho N/A
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
5’ OFFSIDE! Benzema has the ball in the back of the net, but his celebrations are cut short by the linesman’s flag. Vinicius was narrowly offside when he nipped in behind before delivering the final ball.
11’ GOAL! Real have their opener. After a bit of defensive pinball, Valverde picks up the ball just outside the area and thrashes past Badia.
26’ NO GOAL! Real are denied a ridiculously good team goal by another marginal offside, this time from Benzema. Alaba cuts inside off the left and goes on a storming run, exchanging a one-two with Valverde, then another with Benzema, before bursting into the box and thumping the ball into the back of the net. Agonisingly, Benzema was just offside in the build-up.
60’ HAT-TRICK OF DISALLOWED GOALS FOR REAL! Benzema will be absolutely fuming. Carvajal picks him out with a lovely cross. He brings the ball down and smashes home from close range, wheeling away in celebration, only for Carvajal to be flagged for offside.
75’ GOAL! At last, Benzema scores. An intricate passing move ends with him playing a one-two with Rodrygo just inside the area before slotting past the helpless Badia.
89’ GOAL! Asensio wraps things up, charging onto Rodrygo’s cross before volleying over Badia.
KEY STATS
- According to Opta, Valverde’s total of six goals in 15 appearances for Real Madrid in all competitions this term is as many as he scored in his first 148 appearances for the club.
- Rodrygo is the first player born in 2001 or later to provide two assists in the same La Liga game for Real Madrid. Nobody has laid on more assists than him in the league this season (four, level with Real Sociedad’s Mikel Merino).
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