Benzema and Vinicius get doubles as Madrid thrash Valencia

Benzema and Vinicius both scored twice at the Santiago Bernabeu to send Madrid eight points clear of second-placed Sevilla, who have two games in hand, the first coming against Getafe on Sunday.

Benzema's 300th goal came from the penalty spot before Vinicius bamboozled five Valencia defenders, via a one-two with his French teammate, to add a brilliant second early in the second half. Vinicius then headed in a third and Benzema added a late fourth, either side of Goncalo Guedes converting on the rebound after his penalty was saved. Benzema now has 17 goals this season and Vinicius 12, their combined 29 more than the entirety of 13 teams in the division, including fourth-placed Real Sociedad.

Benzema's triple century came after 584 appearances for Real Madrid. He is the fourth player in the club's history to reach the milestone, joining the esteemed trio of Cristiano Ronaldo, Raul and Alfredo di Stefano. Barcelona and Real Madrid will face off in the semi-finals of the Spanish Super Cup on Wednesday but the Catalans must look on with envy now at the class Madrid possess in attack.

A lack of punch had earlier cost Barca dear in a 1-1 draw with Granada that saw them miss the chance to move into La Liga's top four. Instead they stay sixth, level on points with Atletico Madrid, who are still to face Villarreal on Sunday. Real Sociedad sit fourth after they had earlier won 1-0 at home to Celta Vigo.

Madrid were more clinical though. Luka Modric had already hit the crossbar when Casemiro was brought down in the area by Omar Alderete and Benzema converted the penalty. Vinicius scored a superb second in the 52nd minute, driving into the area with a cluster of Valencia defenders ahead of him. After a one-two with Benzema, Vinicius appeared to have been stopped by Mouctar Diakhaby but the Brazilian kept going and the ball squirmed loose, allowing him to sidefoot into the corner.

Vinicius nodded in a third on the line, but Valencia's Guedes pulled one back after heading home on the rebound after Thibaut Courtois dived to his left to save the spot kick. In the 88th minute, Benzema's smart finish on the turn gave him his second of proceedings, 301st overall, and Madrid's fourth.

 

January 8, 2022