Sunday, March 13, 2011

Benzema scores 2, Real Madrid beats Hercules 2-0

t1larg Benzema scores 2, Real Madrid beats Hercules 2 0

Karim Benzema’s third brace in threegames lifted Real Madrid 2-0 over Hercules in the Spanish league onSaturday.

Madrid remained perfect in 22 games in all competitions atSantiago Bernabeu Stadium this season and provisionally moved towithin four points of league leader Barcelona ahead of its visit toSevilla on Sunday.

With topscorer Cristiano Ronaldo recovering from a leg injury,Benzema’s quality stood out in an otherwise uninspiring performancefrom his team.

The France striker grabbed the lead for the hosts in the 24thfinishing off a nice team buildup, and sealed the win in the 56thwith a great individual effort.

“I am (playing) well and I have been lucky to score two goals,but I have to give thanks to all the team,” Benzema told TV’s CanalPlus.

“The league isn’t over and we have to work to win the games wehave left.”

Hercules started well, but it failed to convert its good footballinto a goal, and has gone 11 games without scoring away fromAlicante.

Madrid coach Jose Mourinho rested midfielder Xabi Alonso anddefender Pepe with the return leg of his team’s Champions Leagueround of 16 series against Lyon set for Wednesday.

Madrid lacked the creative team attack that was showed withoutRonaldo last week at Racing Santander when it played its mostattractive football of the season in an electric first half.

Hercules had the first shot on goal in the 10th when formerMadrid striker Javier Portillo weakly rolled the ball into the armsof goalkeeper Iker Casillas, and defender Noe Paramot sent a headerover the crossbar in the 17th.

But Mesut Oezil sparked Madrid with a pass to right back AlvaroArbeloa, who crossed low for Benzema to fire in unmarked.

Despite going behind, Hercules did not fold as goalkeeper JuanCalatayud saved a header from Emmanuel Adebayor in the 28th, andCasillas had to make saves to deny Olivier Thomert and FransiscoFemenia before halftime.

Adebayor came close to Madrid’s second right after the restartwhen his header rattled the crossbar before Benzema decided thematch.

Benzema received the ball in the left corner, advanced along theend line before cutting back and shooting inside the far post with abeautiful right-footed strike.

Benzema, much questioned during the first half of the season, hasnine goals in league play.

“We have to take full advantage of Benzema’s state of grace,”Casillas said. “We hope that he continues the streak as long aspossible.”

Calatayud made a number of saves as time ran down to preventHercules from suffering a worse defeat.

Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid squandered a double by Sergio Agueroto settle for a 2-2 draw at Almeria.

Aguero gave Atletico the lead once in each half, but his team’slackluster defense relinquished the advantage on both occasions.

Almeria’s Albert Crusat canceled out Aguero’s 39th-minute openerwith a volley in the 49th.

The Argentina forward made it 2-1 for the visitors in the 61st,perfectly placing a left-footed shot inside the post of Diego Alves’goal, but substitute striker Henok Goitom headed home to pullAlmeria even in the 77th.

“I am very angry we didn’t win this game,” Aguero told Spanishsports daily AS. “Almeria also showed its merits, but I don’t care.We can’t let points escape like this.”

Atletico is 11 points out of the Champions League positions.

Aguero leads Atletico with 11 goals this season.

Later, third-place Valencia looks to bounce back from itsChampions League exit in its trip to Zaragoza.

On Sunday, Barcelona visits Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium looking toequal a club record of 26 league games without a loss set in1973-74.

Also, it’s: Osasuna vs. Racing Santander, Real Sociedad vs.Malaga, Espanyol vs. Deportivo La Coruna, Levante vs. Mallorca, andVillarreal vs. Sporting Gijon.

Athletic Bilbao travels to Getafe on Monday to close round 28.