Real Madrid rally to edge Betis in eight-goal thriller
SEVILLE: Man of the moment Marco Asensio scored twice and Cristiano Ronaldo was also on target as Real Madrid kept up the feel-good factor with a thrilling 5-3 victory at Real Betis in La Liga on Sunday night.
Madrid had been 2-1 down at half-time in a fantastic game at the Benito Villamarin, but they came roaring back in the second half with Sergio Ramos, Asensio — who had scored the opener — Ronaldo and Karim Benzema all finding the net.
They survived a late Betis onslaught, and after their 3-1 Champions League last-16, first-leg win against Paris SaintGermain in midweek, this victory confirms that Zinedine Zidane’s side are looking better in La Liga now too.
They remain fourth, a huge 17 points behind leaders Barcelona. However, this was their fourth win in five league outings, and they are back to within a point of third-placed Valencia with a game in hand to come at Leganes in midweek.
“It was an end to end game, a bit crazy, but I like that. It shows that we had a proper opponent,” said Zidane.
“Betis were fantastic and controlled the last half-hour of the first half. But I’m happy in the end, and I prefer to focus on the five goals we scored rather than the three we let in.”
Asensio had come off the bench to set up the two late goals that allowed Real to beat PSG and he was rewarded with a start on Sunday in Seville, while Gareth Bale also came in as the likes of Benzema and Luka Modric dropped to the bench.
Earlier, Kevin Gameiro came off the bench in the second half to score one goal and make another for Diego Costa as second-placed Atletico Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao 2-0.
It was another clinical performance from Diego Simeone’s side, who have now recorded four consecutive league victories, all without conceding a goal.
They remain second, seven points behind unbeaten leaders Barcelona, who won 2-0 at Eibar on Saturday.
“We are not stopping, we are playing well at the moment, and we are enjoying ourselves,” said Gameiro when asked about his team’s pursuit of Barcelona.
They remain second, seven points behind unbeaten leaders Barcelona.