Real 3-0 Valencia: Benzema double, Substitute Asensio won for Madrid

Real 3-0 Valencia Benzema double, Sub Asensio won for Madrid

Real Madrid regrouped in the second half to beat Valencia 3-0 at Alfredo di Stéfano Stadium.

Zidane started with Fred Valverde at right and Mendy at the left-back position. Two Brazilians, Vinicius Junior and Marcelo were dropped from starting eleven. Gareth Bale and James Rodríguez featured in Substitutes but were not used. Real Madrid used only two options for substitution during the match.

The match saw Real Madrid centre forward Karim Benzema became Real Madrid’s fifth all-time leading goalscorer in style. He overtook Ferenc Puskas, who scored 242 goals in all competitions for Real Madrid.

The first half remains evenly poised, which saw Real Madrid unleashing Hazard, Benzema and Valverde at early stages. The veteran three in midfield Kroos, Modric and Casemiro combined once again, and that made Zidane put Valverde in the right front.

Real Madrid – All-Time Leading Scorers

At 24th minute Rodrigo scored from 8 yards, but VAR ruled out because of offside. That decision, which saw referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez go over to the VAR screen at the side of the pitch, came moments after Rodrigo struck the outside of the right post.

The first goal came when Eden Hazard combined well with Benzema and midfield. Hazard provided final through pass for the French, who had to make a simple placement, which he did not miss.

It cannot be better for Marco Asensio when he scored Real’s second with his first touch during the match after coming as a substitution for Valverde.

Benzema’s second goal, which came late in the second half, was a blinder from the top of the box, involving a flick and volley which made his manager Zinedine Zidane looking amused in disbelief. That happened after a long time for Real Madrid.

But Benzema’s volley was a contender for goal of the season and confirmed his place among some of the greatest strikers in Real’s history.

Real Madrid vs Valencia – Goals

Cristiano Ronaldo – 450
Raul – 323
Alfredo di Stefano – 308
Santillana – 290
Karim Benzema – 243
Ferenc Puskas – 242
Hugo Sánchez – 208
Francisco Gento – 182
Pirri – 172
Emilio Butragueño – 171

After this win, Real Madrid are currently sitting at the second place, two points behind defending La Liga champion Barcelona, ahead of their next game on Sunday away to Real Sociedad, while Barcelona travel to Sevilla on Friday.

Real Madrid – Starting Eleven

13-Courtois, 2-Carvajal, 4-Ramos, 5-Varane, 23-Mendy, 10-Modric, 14-Casemiro, 8-Kroos, 15-Valverde (Asensio 74′), 9-Benzema, 7-Hazard (Vinícius Júnior 82′)

Real Madrid – Substitutes

1-Areola, 3-Militão, 6-Nacho, 11-Bale, 12-Marcelo, 16-Rodríguez, 20-Asensio, 21-Díaz, 25-Vinícius Júnior, 26-Altube, 27Rodrygo, 39Hernández

Valencia – Starting Eleven

13-Cillessen, 18-Wass, 33-Guillamón <Booked at 84>, 4-Mangala, 14Gayà <Booked at 24>, 20-Torres (Gonçalo Guedes 59′), 10-Parejo (Coquelin 69′), 6-Kondogbia, 8Soler(Cheryshev 69′), 19-Rodrigo (Lee 76′ <Booked at 89>), 22-Gómez (Gameiro 60′)