SUPER KAR
Benzema gives a Real turbo boost in title bid
KARIM BENZEMA fired Real Madrid to victory in the city derby against Atletico Madrid to boost their La Liga title hopes.
The Frenchman netted a cross from compatriot Ferland Mendy to break the deadlock in the 56th minute.
Real could have won by more, with half-time substitute Vinicius Jr forcing two saves from keeper Jan Oblak.
A below-par Atletico rarely looked like troubling a Real defence that have only conceded 13 goals in 22 league games this season.
Angel Correa hit the post and, although they had a penalty appeal rejected when Casemiro sent Alvaro Morata tumbling, they could have few complaints at the scoreline.
Benzema’s second-half strike gave Real their first home win over Atletico in the league since 2012 and increased the lead over Barcelona at the top to six points. Barca can reduce that to three if they beat
Levante tonight.
Zinedine Zidane’s side are now unbeaten in 21 games and have won eight in a row – including a penalty shoot-out success over Atletico in the Spanish Super Cup. Atletico are fifth and trail
Real Madrid 1 Atl Madrid 0
their local rivals by 13 points, while their injury worries deepened as Morata (below) limped off in the second half with a muscle problem. Morata’s mishap swelled Atletico’s list of injured players to seven, less than three weeks before they are due to host holders Liverpool in the Champions League last 16.
The defeat also piled further pressure on coach Diego Simeone, who has failed to win any of his last five games and is enduring his worst spell since taking charge of the club in December 2011.