HUDDERSFIELD NEWCASTLE SALO AND GOODBYE
Rafa: Can we play AWAY every week?
THIBAUT COURTOIS had to make a late double save to earn Real Madrid all three points against neighbours Rayo Vallecano at the Bernabeu.
Santiago Solari and his side had been jeered off after a 3-0 home defeat by CSKA Moscow in the Champions League in midweek.
But an early goal from Karim Benzema, who later went off injured, proved enough for victory, which moved
Los Blancos up to third in the La Liga table, two points off the top.
Real midfielder Luka Modric was presented with the Ballon D’OR before kick-off, and the celebratory mood continued with a goal from their first decent opening on 13 minutes.
The ball was knocked d out to Lucas Vazquez wide on the right, and he glided towards the edge ge of the penalty area before playing in Benzema, who turned to slot into the far corner. r.
Rayo almost got themselves back on level terms when centrereback Emiliano Velazquez ez sent his header wide from a corner.
Rayo regrouped for the start of the second d half, but could have fallen further behind after 51 minutes.
Modric turned Alejandro Galvez at the e edge of the penalty area ea and picked out Marco Asensio, whose effort was saved by Rayo goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski.
Real were forced into o some desperate defending during stoppage time.
Courtois (above) saved from an acrobatic tic effort by sub Alex Alegria and pushed away the follow-up. RAFA BENITEZ B must be tempted to apply for permanent permane residence away from St James’ Park after Newcastle’s Newcastl latest road win.
While they have lost an alarming s seven of nine matches in front of o their own fans, the Magpies’ fo form on their travels is providing Premier League salvation.
This wa was their sixth away game unbeaten unb – and Benitez (left) was delighted d to be back on the road a again.
He said: “It is totally different the way te teams play against you away from home and in this case, we knew t they would be pushing ■ Huddersfield have won just two of their last 14 games against Newcastle in all competitions (D4 L8).
■ Newcastle are unbeaten in four consecutive Prem away games for the first time since November 2012.
Real Madrid 1 Rayo Vallecano 0
on the front foot and we had to exploit the space behind.
“You have to praise our players who defended really well against a physically strong side.
“We had more control in the second half and did well on the counter-attack.”
There was nothing pretty about this win – the perfect antidote to successive home losses – which lifts Toon six points above the drop zone.
It came courtesy of Salomon Rondon’s sweetly executed fourth goal of the season in the 55th minute.
And the crafted build-up was in stark contrast to much of the football on offer on a biting West Yorkshire afternoon.
The ball was worked from keeper through defence to Ayoze Perez who fed Javier Manquillo on his inside and the unheralded full- back strode into the box before angling a weighted pass to Rondon who stabbed home.
“It was a great team goal and something we have been working on,” said Benitez. “Rondon is doing what we brought him here to do – hold the ball up and score goals.”
Huddersfield had edged a fiercely fought contest before the