Karim Benzema was the hero for Real Madrid once again, scoring in the 88th minute and again deep into stoppage time to earn his side a 3-1 victory away at Espanyol.
Real Madrid maintain their winning start to the La Liga season as Ancelotti’s team picked up their third win in a row after beating Espanyol at the RCD Stadium to take top spot in the league. Benzema showed once more why he’s UEFA’s player of the year, giving Carlo Ancelotti’s team all three points.
Real Madrid came into this game with a 100 percent record so far, having won the UEFA Super Cup and also their away trips to Almeria and Celta Vigo.
Neither team managed to create chances in what was an evenly matched opening, until Vini Jr. broke the deadlock in the 12th minute. The Brazilian capitalised on a through ball from Tchouameni to score with a right-footed effort to make it 0-1. Lecomte had to be at his best shortly afterwards to keep out the Brazilian again after a great run down the left flank.
GOL DEL REAL MADRID!
VINICIUS JR CON CALIDAD 🕺 pic.twitter.com/MwdnFL5VyO
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 28, 2022
Real Madrid stepped up a gear and began to create a string of chances, with Vini Jr’s curling effort sailing over the bar before Kroos’s shot was blocked by the Catalonian defender. As the first half drew to a close, Espanyol finally threatened with Joselu eventually finding the equaliser thanks to his shot from inside the box which was initially saved by Courtois, but the ball deflected to the Blue and Whites’ forward who made it 1-1.
Espanyol get the equalizer vs. Real Madrid 😤 pic.twitter.com/0wZFl6Ygyi
— ESPN+ (@ESPNPlus) August 28, 2022
Carlo Ancelotti’s team kept turning the screw and on 66’ Tony Kroos fired the ball goal-wards from the left and Benzema toepoked the ball into the net to put Real Madrid 2-1 ahead, but the goal was soon ruled out for offside. Madrid continued to attack the Espanyol goal and Karim Benzema finally found a way through on 88’. Rodrygo whipped in a fine cross for the Frenchman to scored at the back post with a well-controlled volley.
RODRYGO TO BENZEMA 😱
IT HAD TO BE THEM 🔥 pic.twitter.com/RkC97XiuEU
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 28, 2022
The Madrid captain was not finished there though and in injury time, as the hosts were reduced to ten men after Lecomte was given his marching orders for bringing down Ceballos. Benzema curled in the resulting freekick to seal a 1-3 win.
BENZEMA HAS TAKEN OVER 🎯
FREE KICK BEAUTY! pic.twitter.com/8Sca3AqLKr
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 28, 2022
After the match Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said ,”We had a very good start. We controlled the game well and struck early. We then dropped our intensity a bit, we weren’t effective up front and it became more difficult after they equalised because there were a lot of stoppages. The game became end to end and that suited us.”
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