Advertisement
UK markets closed

  • FTSE 100

    8,213.49
    +41.34 (+0.51%)
     

  • FTSE 250

    20,164.54
    +112.21 (+0.56%)
     

  • AIM

    771.53
    +3.42 (+0.45%)
     

  • GBP/EUR

    1.1652
    -0.0031 (-0.26%)
     

  • GBP/USD

    1.2546
    +0.0013 (+0.11%)
     

  • Bitcoin GBP

    50,026.98
    +2,710.90 (+5.73%)
     

  • CMC Crypto 200

    1,357.62
    +80.65 (+6.32%)
     

  • S&P 500

    5,127.79
    +63.59 (+1.26%)
     

  • DOW

    38,675.68
    +450.02 (+1.18%)
     

  • CRUDE OIL

    77.99
    -0.96 (-1.22%)
     

  • GOLD FUTURES

    2,310.10
    +0.50 (+0.02%)
     

  • NIKKEI 225

    38,236.07
    -37.98 (-0.10%)
     

  • HANG SENG

    18,475.92
    +268.79 (+1.48%)
     

  • DAX

    18,001.60
    +105.10 (+0.59%)
     

  • CAC 40

    7,957.57
    +42.92 (+0.54%)
     
MONEY:

Best savings accounts that offer above inflation rates

Where to find a top-rated deal that works for you

Karim Benzema scores twice as Real Madrid stop the rot with 4-1 win at Alaves

PA Sport Staff
·2-min read

Karim Benzema notched a brace as Real Madrid bounced back after their cup humiliation with a 4-1 LaLiga victory at Alaves.

Three days on from the embarrassing Copa del Rey loss to third-tier Alcoyano, Real scored three times in the first half at Mendizorroza, with Casemiro heading in the opener in the 15th minute.

Benzema added a fierce 41st-minute strike having been teed up by Eden Hazard, who then slotted in the third moments later.

Joselu reduced the deficit with a header just prior to the hour mark before Benzema struck his second in the 70th minute.

ADVERTISEMENT

It was a first win in four games in all competitions for Real, whose boss Zinedine Zidane was absent from the contest after testing positive for coronavirus.

The result leaves the second-placed defending champions – now unbeaten in nine league outings – four points behind Atletico Madrid, having played two games more. Atletico are in action on Sunday, hosting Valencia.

Alaves made a bright start, with Joselu and Martin Aguirregabiria seeing efforts go off target before Benzema had a shot blocked at the other end.

Casemiro – one of only two survivors in the Real starting line-up from the Alcoyano match – then put the visitors in front, heading past Fernando Pacheco as he connected with a Toni Kroos corner.

Hazard went close with a shot around the half-hour, then produced a clever flick to set up Benzema’s goal towards the end of the half.

The Belgian subsequently netted the third soon after, latching on to Kroos’ pass and sending a finish beyond Pacheco.

Alaves made another strong start after the break and after Joselu had brought a good save out of Thibaut Courtois, he beat him with a header from Lucas Perez’s corner.

Real, though, restored their three-goal cushion as Benzema cut into the box from the left and fired a low strike into the corner of the net.