The star, Karim Benzema, led Real Madrid to a 2-0 victory over Valladolid in the fifteenth round of the Spanish football league.
Sharjah 24 – Asad Khalil:
Five weeks after his disappointment in his absence from the World Cup due to injury, Frenchman Karim Benzema made a successful return to the stadiums, guided by holders Real Madrid, to end the year with a victory over their hosts Valladolid after scoring in a double 2-0 victory in the fifteenth stage of the Spanish football league.
Benzema returned to the Royal Club squad for the first time after a two-month absence, playing upfront alongside Brazilian Vinicius Junior and Marco Asensio, in a meeting which the sides began with a minute’s silence to mourn the death of Brazilian legend Pele on Thursday, aged 82, after a battle with colon cancer.
Benzema, who eventually won the Ballon d’Or, was picked up by the French national team for the World Cup in Qatar, but a thigh injury in training forced him to withdraw on the eve of the opener.
And with the end of the World Cup, in which the “roosters” finished second after losing to Argentina in the final on penalties, Benzema announced the end of his international career with his national team after 37 goals in 97 games.
– Barcelona have a chance to move –
Benzema’s participation didn’t bring much into Friday’s game until the final minutes when he scored his first goal from a penalty kick (83), then added his second in the 89th minute, taking his tally to 7 league goals in this season.
Benzema gave Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti’s side a temporary lead in their last game of this year, by a point ahead of rivals Barcelona, who take on neighbors Espanyol on Saturday.
Real were the better side and had several chances to open the scoring, the first of which was Asensio’s strike from the outskirts of the box, goalkeeper Jordi Masip shone in blocking it, then Benzema missed a chance to ‘gold after the ball fell in front of a shot by Vinicius which Masip blocks, but the holder of the golden ball throws it over the crossbar (18’).
Real returned to threaten their host’s goal this time with Vinicius, after the Brazilian manipulated two defenders before shooting, but Maseb was looking for him (37).
The ground owner nearly opened the scoring from the first serious attempt, but Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was in time to block Alvaro Aguado’s shot (37).
Real continued their lead in the second half and threatened the host’s goal with Asensio, who received the ball from Benzema and hit it from an angle into the side goal (50′), then Sergio Leon responded with a very dangerous header on which Courtois shines. blocking it (68).
Real tried in the final minutes and Benzema tried his luck from the edge of the area, but the goalkeeper shone defending his own goal (78′), then relief came for Real when the referee awarded him a penalty kick after arguing with the “VAR”. following a hand ball on Javi Sanchez which Sergio Leon disputed, which led to his sending off, and Benzema managed her (83).
Then the French top scorer finally decided the three points by adding the second goal in the 89th minute, following a pass from compatriot Eduardo Camavinga (89′).
– Sevilla remain in the danger zone –
And Sevilla remained in the danger zone after failing to win a sixth successive leg, despite the help of Argentine coach Jorge Sampaoli, equalizing with their host Celta Vigo with a goal from Kiki Salas (54) against a goal by Gabriel Vega ( 33), in a meeting completed by the Andalusian club with ten players in the last minutes, after the expulsion of Jose Angel Carmona (86).
The team that finished fourth last season and was one of Spain’s representatives in the Champions League, where its career ended in the group stage to complement its continental ‘Europa League’ campaign, will end the year in eighteenth place with 12 points, on goal difference against Cadiz XIX, who drew with Almeria 1-1 on Friday.
Getafe inflicted their first defeat on their hosts Real Sociedad since 19 October, and their fourth this season, beating them with two clean goals from Borja Mayoral (51 and 78), who scored twice for the second time career out of 118 league games.
With their first win since 31 October and fourth this season, Getafe extended their tally to 17 points in 14th place, while Mallorca’s balance remained stagnant at 19 points.
