Karim conjures up late victory

A LATE goal from Karim Benzema earned REAL MADRID a 1-0 win at RAYO VALLECANO and allowed the LaLiga leaders to extend their advantage at the top of the standings.

They are now nine points clear of SEVILLA, who play third-placed REAL BETIS today.

Madrid looked slow and disjointed until Benzema (below) and Vinicius Junior worked their magic seven minutes from time.

The French striker found Vinicius with a brilliant through pass and ran into space to receive the ball back and finish from close range with a single touch.

Bundesliga leaders BAYERN

MUNICH needed a 71st-minute goal from Leroy Sane to break the resistance of EINTRACHT FRANKFURT for a 1-0 win that also put them nine points clear.

Before the start, there was a minute’s silence in protest of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Sane won it when he latched on to a Joshua Kimmich through-ball and tucked it away.

BAYER LEVERKUSEN’S Moussa Diaby scored twice in a 3-0 win over ARMINIA BIELEFELD to tighten their grip on third place.

In Serie A, a double from Dusan Vlahovic earned JUVENTUS a 3-2 win at EMPOLI

to narrow the gap on leaders AC MILAN to seven points.