Madrid coach Ancelotti lavishes praise on Benzema after forward scores brace in team’s 4-1 opening-day win over Alaves; calls Frenchman a complete player
Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema celebrates scoring against Deportivo Alaves during their Spanish League tie on Saturday. Pic/Getty Images
A brace from French veteran striker Karim Benzema got Real Madrid off to a flier in La Liga Saturday, his double laying the foundation for a 4-1 victory at Alaves to leave Carlo Ancelotti celebrating the start of his second spell in charge with a victory.
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Eternal rivals Barcelona may have lost Lionel Messi but Real themselves are in a period of transition having seen Zinedine Zidane step down as coach and defenders Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane head for Messi’s PSG and Manchester United respectively.
Carlo Ancelotti
Initial struggles
After initially failing to click in a goalless first half, Real found their rhythm after the restart as Gareth Bale found Eden Hazard who flicked on with his heel for Benzema to volley home on 48 minutes.
“To call Karim a striker won’t do him justice—he is a complete player. More so than five years ago,” said Ancelotti. “In the first half we lacked intensity but Karim’s first goal opened up the game. I want to play with intensity with or without the ball.”
Bale booked
Bale blotted his copybook with a booking for a high boot but Real did not allow that to loosen the grip they were steadily taking on the game. Nacho volleyed in from close range following a Luka Modric short corner on 56 minutes and Benzema made it 3-0 just after the hour, scuffing in at the second time of asking after a fine run and assist by Federico Valverde. A Joselu penalty for the hosts was a minor blemish. But a Vinicius header applied extra gloss for Real’s fourth in injury time.
17
No. of goals Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema has scored in Spanish League this year
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