Benzema bonanza Karim nets brace, Madrid maintain heat on Barca in Spain

Madrid, June 19: Karim Benzema scored twice and Marco Asensio added another on his return from a 10-month injury layoff as Real Madrid beat Valencia 3-0 to keep pace with leader Barcelona in the Spanish league.

The home win on Thursday left Madrid two points behind Barcelona, which defeated Leganes 20 on Tuesday for its second straight win after the pandemic break.

Madrid took control of the match after a lackluster first half in which Valencia had the most significant scoring chances and a goal disallowed by video review.

Benzema opened the scoring in the 61st minute after a pass by Eden Hazard, who again was decisive for Madrid in his second match after a long injury layoff.

Asensio, making his first appearance since a serious knee injury last year, scored with his first touch about 30 seconds after entering the match in the 74th.

That’s the way to come back, his teammates could be heard saying during the goal celebration at the empty Alfredo Di Stfano Stadium.

Asensio also set up Benzema’s third goal with a one-touch cross on a counterattack and the French striker finished off the move sublimely using his right foot to flick the ball away from a defender and then his left to hammer it into the top of the net. It was the Frenchman’s 16th league goal.

It was the fifth double this season for Benzema, who passed Ferenc Puskas to become Madrid’s fifth leading scorer all-time.

Valencia went a man down in the 89th after a straight red card was shown to Lee Kang-in for a foul on Madrid defender Sergio Ramos.

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AP

Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema (left) scores the opening goal during their Spanish league match against Valencia at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium in Valdebebas, Madrid, Spain, on Thursday. Madrid won 3-0.