Comfy at the top
Benzema brace hands real win against bilbao
BARCELONA: Karim Benzema scored the goals in Real Madrid’s 2-1 win at Athletic Bilbao to send Carlo Ancelotti’s side into the winter break eight points clear atop La Liga.
As Real ended the year with a bang, city rivals and defending champions Atletico Madrid suffered their fourth straight defeat, a 2-1 reverse at Granada, to leave them fifth but a yawning 17 points adrift.
Benzema ultimately put the fixture out of reach of Real’s Basque hosts in a matter of minutes, Oihan Sancet pulling one back with his speedy 10th minute reply which hit the woodwork before evading Thibaut Cortois.
Benzema’s 14th and 15th goals of the season consolidated his position at the top of the league’s goalscoring chart.
“It was a complete game from our team with players that didn’t have many opportunities before and that showed the grit and will from a group that are willing to compete in every competition,” coach Carlo Ancelotti told reporters.
He also praised Benzema for his performance.
“He is a top player in the world. Just amazing.”
The French striker was given a standing ovation from Athletic fans when he was substituted late in the second half.
“I like this type of football, playing in this stadium, this environment.
I’m happy. This win in this place is very important for us,” Benzema told reporters.
“We played well, suffered a little like great teams do. My first goal? It was good but better was scoring because it gave us confidence to go on and score the second right away.”
Earlier Atletico’s shaky defence of their La Liga crown took another big hit with injured duo Antoine Griezmann and Stefan Savic absent.
Atletico would be more than happy to swop trajectories with Granada for whom this was a third consecutive win in front of their home fans and their fifth game without loss.
This was certainly not how Diego Simeone envisaged the night before his 10th year anniversary in charge at Atletico.
What’s more his Portuguese striker Joao Felix had Granada on the backfoot in the second minute when his low angled shot got the better of his fellow countryman Luis Maximiano.
Venezuelan forward Darwin Machis levelled in the 17th minute.
Felix had a header arguably harshly disallowed as the first half drew to a close with Jorge Molina grabbing the winner after the hour mark for Granada.