Madrid edge past Espanyol to go two clear of Barcelona
Madrid: Karim Benzema delivered another moment of magic on Sunday night as Real Madrid took a two-point lead over Barcelona at the top of La
Liga by beating bottom club Espanyol. Benzema’s volley against Valencia could be goal of the season and he might now have a claim to best assist too after his brilliant backheel teed up Casemiro to finish for a crucial 1-0 win.
Madrid’s advantage in the table, coming after Barca’s draw away at Celta Vigo on Saturday, is their biggest since February and puts them within sight of their second league title in eight years. “It’s a very important win,” said Benzema. “I can’t say we don’t look at Barcelona, of course we do. But we’re focused on our own league. There are not many games left and every game now is a final.”
Zinedine Zidane said Eden Hazard took a knock to his ankle. “He took a big hit but it’s just a knock I think,” said Zidane. By the time his side play at home to Getafe on Thursday they might even have the chance to move further clear, if in-form Atletico Madrid avoid defeat to Barcelona today at Camp Nou.
Barcelona certainly have the harder run-in, with a resurgent Villarreal side to follow Atletico and then local rivals Espanyol, who have shown they might yet finish strong after a determined performance under new coach Franciso Rufete.
Rufete, who was previously the club’s sporting director, is Espanyol’s fourth coach of the season after the sacking of Abelardo Fernandez on Saturday. His task is now to make up a nine-point gap between his team in 20th and Celta in 17th. They were undone by a piece of brilliance from Benzema, who has been the catalyst for Madrid sealing five wins out of five since La Liga restarted.
Benzema’s backheel came on an afternoon of sensational assists after Villarreal’s Santi Cazorla earlier set up Gerard Moreno with an incredible, cushioned touch in their 2-0 win over Valencia.
Madrid, though, were scruffy and ponderous, this perhaps their least impressive win over the last three weeks. But solidity and steel ensured they came through unscathed and it was no surprise that defensive midfielder Casemiro, arguably the team’s best player this term, was named man of the match.
Espanyol were far from outplayed and might have been ahead if they had capitalised on a series of forays down Madrid’s left in the first half.
Madrid were sloppy but created chances. Espanyol were hanging on for half-time and they were caught out by Benzema. Ramos flicked on Marcelo’s crossfield pass and Benzema, moving away from goal, backheeled off the bounce through the legs of Bernardo Espinosa for the arriving Casemiro to finish.
Earlier, Villarreal continued their surge towards Champions League qualification with a victory over Valencia, inspired by Cazorla. The former Arsenal midfielder found himself under a 60-yard punt from his goalkeeper before cushioning the ball out of the air perfectly for Gerard Moreno to volley in. Paco Alcacer also scored against his former club as Villarreal moved just three points behind fourth-placed Sevilla.