ZZ’S REAL ROLL OVER LAS PALMAS TO CALM CRISIS TALK
Zidane’s boys roll over Las Palmas to calm crisis talk
MADRID: Real Madrid quietened crisis talk after back-to-back defeats as Marco Asensio added to his collection of wonder strikes in a 3-0 victory over Las Palmas at the Bernabeu.
Victory cuts third-placed Real’s deficit on Barcelona at the top of La Liga back to eight points.
However, it was another off night for Real’s strikers as Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema were held scoreless as Casemiro, Isco and 21-year-old Asensio provided the killer touch.
“They are the first ones that aren’t happy,” said Real boss Zinedine Zidane of Ronaldo and Benzema’s goal droughts.
“The important thing is the work that they do and the chances we create.
“Today Isco, Asensio and Casemiro scored and soon Cristiano and Karim will. We need to remain calm.”
Benzema has been fiercely criticised for his role as Real lost to promoted Girona last weekend and at Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League on Wednesday.
And the level of discontent with the Frenchman was in evidence as he was jeered by the home faithful inside the first five minutes when he failed to slot past Raul Lizoain after being played clean through on goal by Ronaldo.
Both Ronaldo and Benzema have only one La Liga goal each to their name so far this season and it was the World Player of the Year who had Real’s next three efforts as he blasted into the side-netting, curled a shot just wide and then placed a header from close range too close to Lizoain.
Elsewhere, Villarreal’s unbeaten league run since Javier Calleja took charge in September continued as Nicola Sansone came off the bench to grab both goals in a 2-0 win over Malaga to move the Yellow Submarine up to fifth.
Real Sociedad were also comfortable 3-1 winners over Eibar.
However, their Basque rivals Athletic Bilbao’s slump show no signs of abating as they conceded three times in the opening 26 minutes to lose 3-1 at Celta Vigo with Iago Aspas netting twice for the hosts. — AFP