Karim Benzema's third brace in three
games lifted Real Madrid 2-0 over Hercules in the Spanish league on
Saturday.
Madrid remained perfect in 22 games in all competitions at
Santiago Bernabeu Stadium this season and provisionally moved to
within four points of league leader Barcelona ahead of its visit to
Sevilla on Sunday.
With topscorer Cristiano Ronaldo recovering from a leg injury,
Benzema's quality stood out in an otherwise uninspiring performance
from his team.
The France striker grabbed the lead for the hosts in the 24th
finishing off a nice team buildup, and sealed the win in the 56th
with 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 Canal
Plus.
"The league isn't over and we have to work to win the games we
have left."
Hercules started well, but it failed to convert its good football
into a goal, and has gone 11 games without scoring away from
Alicante.
Madrid coach Jose Mourinho rested midfielder Xabi Alonso and
defender Pepe with the return leg of his team's Champions League
round of 16 series against Lyon set for Wednesday.
Madrid lacked the creative team attack that was showed without
Ronaldo last week at Racing Santander when it played its most
attractive football of the season in an electric first half.
Hercules had the first shot on goal in the 10th when former
Madrid striker Javier Portillo weakly rolled the ball into the arms
of goalkeeper Iker Casillas, and defender Noe Paramot sent a header
over the crossbar in the 17th.
But Mesut Oezil sparked Madrid with a pass to right back Alvaro
Arbeloa, who crossed low for Benzema to fire in unmarked.
Despite going behind, Hercules did not fold as goalkeeper Juan
Calatayud saved a header from Emmanuel Adebayor in the 28th, and
Casillas had to make saves to deny Olivier Thomert and Fransisco
Femenia before halftime.
Adebayor came close to Madrid's second right after the restart
when his header rattled the crossbar before Benzema decided the
match.
Benzema received the ball in the left corner, advanced along the
end line before cutting back and shooting inside the far post with a
beautiful right-footed strike.
Benzema, much questioned during the first half of the season, has
nine 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 as
possible."
Calatayud made a number of saves as time ran down to prevent
Hercules from suffering a worse defeat.
Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid squandered a double by Sergio Aguero
to settle for a 2-2 draw at Almeria.
Aguero gave Atletico the lead once in each half, but his team's
lackluster defense relinquished the advantage on both occasions.
Almeria's Albert Crusat canceled out Aguero's 39th-minute opener
with 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 pull
Almeria even in the 77th.
"I am very angry we didn't win this game," Aguero told Spanish
sports 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 its
Champions League exit in its trip to Zaragoza.
On Sunday, Barcelona visits Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium looking to
equal a club record of 26 league games without a loss set in
1973-74.
Also, it's: Osasuna vs. Racing Santander, Real Sociedad vs.
Malaga, Espanyol vs. Deportivo La Coruna, Levante vs. Mallorca, and
Villarreal vs. Sporting Gijon.
Athletic Bilbao travels to Getafe on Monday to close round 28.
