Real Madrid 4-2 UD Almeria - Karim Benzema treble helps Los Blancos consolidate second spot in La Liga
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Updated 29/04/2023 at 19:18 GMT
A first-half hat-trick from Karim Benzema helped Real Madrid overcome UD Almeria as Los Blancos consolidated second spot in La Liga. Lazaro pulled a goal back for the visitors before Rodrygo restored the three-goal lead in the second period. Carlo Ancelotti's side reduced the gap on leaders Barcelona to eight points but the Catalan club need only need 11 points to claim the title.
Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema (R) celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and UD Almeria at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on April 29, 2023
Image credit: Getty Images
Karim Benzema scored a first-half hat-trick as Real Madrid brushed aside Almeria 4-2 and got back to winning ways.
Benzema missed the shock loss to Girona in midweek through injury but needed fewer than five minutes to score today, tapping in after good Vinicius Junior set-up play.
Benzema's second goal came thanks to an excellent assist from Rodrygo, while the third was a penalty and he sent the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Lazaro pulled a goal back for Almeria on the cusp of the break, but Rodrygo restored the three-goal lead with a vicious strike early in the second half.
Slack Real defending allowed for substitute Lucas Robertone to head in a second Almeria goal, but a comeback was never on the cards.
Benzema hit the post as he went in search of a fourth goal and was joined in that result by Marco Asensio, who was twice denied by the woodwork.
Madrid's win cuts the gap to Barcelona to eight points, however the Catalan giants still only need 11 points from their remaining seven games to win the title. Almeria stay two points above the relegation zone.
TALKING POINT - Benzema back with a bang
The Frenchman quickly dispelled any fears about his fitness with a first-half hat-trick defined by ruthless finishing. It is Benzema's third hat-trick this month so you cannot even call it a reminder of his quality - how could anyone have forgotten? Yet it is reassuring nonetheless for Real with the Copa del Rey final and Champions League semi-final on the horizon.
Madrid will not be winning La Liga this season but they could still pick up one of the division's marquee individual honours - Benzema is now just one goal behind Robert Lewandowski in the race to be top scorer despite having only played 21 games.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Rodrygo (Real Madrid)
After a good first half headlined by a brilliant assist where he artfully flicked the ball past Samu Costa while running out of play, then shrugged off the Portuguese before putting the ball on a plate for Benzema to finish, Rodrygo really came to life in the second half. His goal was a fantastic strike and Real's best attacks were all going through Rodrygo until he was taken off.
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Rodrygo of Real Madrid scores the team's fourth goal during the LaLiga Santander match between Real Madrid CF and UD Almeria
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER RATINGS
Real Madrid: Courtois 6, Vazquez 7, Militao 5, Rudiger 6, Camavinga 7, Kroos 7, Ceballos 5, Tchouameni 6, Rodrygo 8, Vinicius 7, Benzema 8. Subs: Asensio 7, Nacho 6, Carvajal 6.
Almeria: Martinez 7, Mendes 3, Chumi 5, Ely 5, Akieme 5, de la Hoz 5, Costa 5, Puigmal 4, Portillo 6, Ramazani 5, Lazaro 6. Subs: Robertone 6, Eguaras 5, Suarez 5, Melero 5, Centelles 5.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
BENZEMA SCORES TAP-IN 5' - Vinicius collects a long pass, beats Mendes and then crosses with the outside of his boot for Benzema to tap in from close range.
BENZEMA GETS A SECOND 17' - Benzema scores again but is pointing at the assister for a reason. Rodrygo produces an extraordinary piece of skill to beat Costa when his momentum was taking him out of play, then shrugs off the defender to set up Benzema who sweeps home.
BENZEMA COMPLETES HAT-TRICK 42' - Benzema slots a penalty into the goalkeeper's left-hand bottom corner and has a first-half hat-trick.
LAZARO PULLS ONE BACK 45+1' - Militao is slow to close down Ramazani from a throw-in and the Belgian takes advantage - also somewhat making amends to giving away the penalty - by sending in an inviting cross which Lazaro gets on the end of for a tap-in.
RODRYGO SCORES STUNNER 48' - Rodrygo collects the ball on the edge of box, turns swifty, space is opened up by an overlapping run and he responds by firing into the top corner.
ROBERTONE MAKES IT 4-261' - Real Madrid get caught playing out from the goal kick and Potillo picks out Robertone with a nice cross. The substitute makes no mistake and heads in Almeria's second.
KEY STAT
Benzema is up to 236 La Liga goals, fourth on the all-time list and two more than Hugo Sanchez.
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