Interim boss has hit ground running

– Karim Benzema’s (right) first-half brace propelled Real Madrid to a 5-0 thrashing of Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League on Wednesday, putting the holders one win from the last16 after a third straight victory under Santiago Solari.

Former Real midfielder Solari took over from the sacked Julen Lopetegui as interim coach on October 29, and has now seen his side score 11 times without reply following wins over Melilla and Real Valladolid.

“I think we played a very nice game today, we scored wonderful goals,” Solari told reporters. “A 5-0 win in the Champions League – I can only be happy with that.”

Plzen

Benzema struck first in the 21st minute on Wednesday, weaving his way through the Plzen defence and beating goalkeeper Ales Hruska with a low shot.

Casemiro made it two shortly afterwards by nodding in a Toni Kroos corner, and Benzema headed home himself in the 37th minute after Gareth Bale had found him unmarked just yards out.

Bale scored five minutes before half-time, beating Hruska with a low left-footed shot at his far post following Benzema’s flick-on header.

Kroos rounded off the scoring in the 68th minute, curling a sumptuous lob over the stranded Hruska. –