Real Madrid beat Elche as Ballon d’Or winner Benzema scores

4:45 PM ET

  • Alex KirklandESPN FC

Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema scored a function however had two others overruled through VAR as Real Madrid beat backside facet Elche 3-0 in LaLiga motion on Wednesday.

Federico Valverde and Marco Asensio additionally netted targets in Madrid’s relaxed win, who additionally beat Clasico opponents Barcelona previous this week.

In-form Valverde gave Real the lead within the eleventh minute with a super technical strike from the threshold of the realm. Benzema prolonged Real’s lead within the seventy fifth minute after neat interaction with Rodrygo, who assisted Benzema with a artful back-heel cross.

– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, extra (U.S.)

The protecting league champions ruled the sport all through and had a number of possibilities instead of the 3 efforts dominated out, one through David Alaba and two from Benzema.

Substitute Asensio added the 3rd one minute from time, firing house a close-range end from Rodrygo’s go.

JUMP TO: Player scores | Best/worst performers | Highlights and notable moments | Post-match quotes | Key stats | Upcoming fixtures

Rapid response

1. No post-Clasico, Ballon d’Or dips for Madrid and Benzema

Three days after Madrid’s greatest sport of the season to this point and two days after the signature second of Karim Benzema’s occupation thus far, each the staff and its megastar participant got here out towards Elche with an depth and function worthy of the largest events.

There was once no longer a touch of the comfort that may well be anticipated after a 3-1 Clasico win over Barcelona, or the private triumph of Benzema’s long-awaited Ballon d’Or coronation. Instead, Elche had been subjected to an onslaught that left the bottom-of-the-table facet reeling. First Benzema’s stunning staff function was once disallowed within the sixth minute, then Federico Valverde scored his screamer 5 mins later, and quarter-hour after that David Alaba completed off an excellent higher transfer, just for Benzema to be flagged offside.

At hal-time, it was once exceptional that Elche had been nonetheless within the sport regardless of being a function down. Benzema was once as soon as once more stuck offside with an hour performed, and when he in any case scored within the seventy fifth minute — arrange through Rodrygo’s backheel — there was once even time for a funny story with referee Jesus Gil Manzano about any other imaginable offside name. This was once a constant efficiency from Madrid and Benzema. Both will take some preventing this season.

2. Valverde’s targets simply stay coming

Whatever roughly participant you concept Valverde may transform — a deep-lying, conserving midfielder like Casemiro most likely, or a hyperactive box-to-box participant within the mildew of Steven Gerrard — you almost certainly did not suppose he’d grow to be a function system. Valverde has now scored six targets this season — most effective Vinicius Junior has extra for Madrid — which is as many as he’d scored within the earlier 4 years.

He scored in 3 video games in a row in September, and now he is adopted a function in Sunday’s Clasico with the opener right here. Carlo Ancelotti stated previous this season that if Valverde did not get into double figures, he must tear up his training licence. He’s already over midway there. It’s notable what number of of Valverde’s targets come from out of doors the field, and he can ranking with both foot, too, as this left-footed effort at the leap confirmed. He may have had any other past due on, bursting into the field, most effective to be denied through a phenomenal save through Edgar Badia.

Toni Kroos thinks he is some of the 3 highest avid gamers on the planet at this time. That may well be a slight exaggeration. But no longer through a lot. Valverde did not make the Ballon d’Or shortlist this 12 months, however do not be shocked to peer him there ahead of too lengthy.

3. Lunin merits credit score ahead of Courtois go back

This was once most likely the top to goalkeeper Andriy Lunin‘s run within the first staff, with Thibaut Courtois anticipated to go back from harm in time to stand Sevilla this weekend. If so, then Lunin merits reward for acting admirably in the #1’s absence. He’s been so cast, in truth — even if definitely the staff’s defensive solidity as a complete has helped significantly — that Courtois’ absence has infrequently been felt.

One save right here particularly, a second-half point-blank forestall from Carlos Clerc‘s header, got here with the sport nonetheless within the stability. The 23-year-old has stored blank sheets towards Getafe and Elche, and the staff pop out of his time between the posts on height of LaLiga and certified for the Champions League round-of-16. Whenever Lunin’s subsequent alternative comes, he is proven he is able to take it.

Player scores

Elche: Edgar Badia 6; Helibelton Palacios 5, Gonzalo Verdu 6, Pedro Bigas 6, Carlos Clerc 6; Omar Mascarell 6; Tete Morente 5, Raul Guti 6, Pere Milla 5, Nicolas Mercau 6; Lucas Boye 6.
Subs: Josan 5, Gerard Gumbau 5, Ezequiel Ponce 5, Domingos Quina 6.

Real Madrid: Andriy Lunin 8; Dani Carvajal 7, Eder Militao 7, Antonio Rudiger 7, David Alaba 7; Toni Kroos 7, Federico Valverde 8, Luka Modric 7; Rodrygo Goes 8, Vinicius Junior 7, Karim Benzema 9.
Subs: Aurelien Tchouameni 7, Eduardo Camavinga 6, Marco Asensio 7, Lucas Vazquez 6, Nacho 6.

Best and worst performers

BEST: Karim Benzema, Real Madrid.
Back to his highest and may have had a hat trick had been it no longer for the ones tight — however proper — offside calls.

WORST: Helibelton Palacios, Elche.
None of the Elche defenders had an relaxing night time up towards a fluid Madrid assault, however Palacios was once more than likely the worst of them.

Highlights and notable moments

How do you have fun after seeing two targets overruled through VAR? By signaling for it your self! Well carried out through Benzema.

And then a Zen-like (or Haaland-esque) birthday celebration for Valverde after his shocking function.

All in all, a cast efficiency through the champs.

After the event: What the managers, avid gamers stated

Valverde on his scoring prowess: “[Ancelotti] said I had to score 10 goals [this season]. I’m focused on doing it, it’s a good kind of pressure. I don’t want him to have to retire as a manager! It’s helped me to feel confident in front of goal.”

Ancelotti on taking part in so quickly after Clasico: “I was worried about this game, it was important, because after the Clasico you could think the level could drop, I wanted to rotate but didn’t want to give them excuses, the team played well, focused, in attack it was very good, we had a lot of mobility. But until the 70th minute the game was open, they could have equalised.”

Key stats (equipped through ESPN Stats & Information)

– Karim Benzema (224) is now 3 targets shy of tying Alfredo Di Stéfano (227) for sixth-place at the all-time LaLiga height scorers record. The height 5? Lionel Messi (474), Cristiano Ronaldo (311), Telmo Zarra (251), Hugo Sanchez (234) and Raul (228).

– Carlo Ancelotti controlled his 124th LaLiga sport as of late, breaking a tie with Claudio Ranieri for essentially the most through an Italian supervisor.

– Now winless in 10 video games to start out the season, Elche are dealing with a major combat to keep away from relegation. The most effective staff to conquer a one of these streak and stay within the top-flight was once Real Valladolid within the 1982-83 season (13 winless video games).

Up subsequent

Real Madrid: Back on the Bernabeu for any other LaLiga fixture on Saturday as Sevilla come to the city. Then again to Champions League motion with a shuttle to RB Lepzig subsequent Tuesday.

Elche: The quest for his or her first LaLiga win continues, this time towards Espanyol on Sunday.

Leave a Comment