In a thrilling La Liga clash on Saturday, Real Madrid emerged victorious with a 4-2 win over Almeria, narrowing the points gap between them and league leaders Barcelona to just eight. Real Madrid’s French striker Karim Benzema was the star of the show, scoring a hat-trick in the first half alone, taking his total La Liga goals for the season to 17. With this tally, Benzema is just one goal behind Barcelona’s top scorer Robert Lewandowski.
Rodrygo added a fourth goal for Madrid early in the second half, while Almeria’s Lazaro and Lucas Robertone scored for the visitors. Despite making several changes to the starting lineup, Almeria coach Rubi couldn’t secure any points from the Santiago Bernabeu. Almeria’s next match against Elche on Tuesday is expected to be more fruitful in their bid for survival in La Liga.
Madrid showcased their attacking prowess in an entertaining match, playing with a sense of freedom despite minimal chances of retaining their title. Rodrygo, who provided an assist for Benzema’s second goal, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance and his own contributions, stating, “We had a very good game, I’m happy for another assist and another goal, and the most important thing was the win.”
After suffering a 4-2 midweek defeat against Girona, Madrid’s coach Carlo Ancelotti made some tactical changes, including bringing Benzema back into the lineup after missing the previous game due to injury. The move proved fruitful as Benzema’s lethal scoring ability shone through.
The first goal came in the fifth minute when Vinicius Junior evaded two defenders and passed the ball to Benzema for an easy finish. The second goal, assisted by Rodrygo, came after 17 minutes of play, showcasing his skill and strength as he outplayed Samuel Costa before setting up Benzema’s goal. Benzema completed his hat-trick in the 42nd minute with a penalty after Largie Ramazani fouled Lucas Vazquez.
Though Almeria’s Lazaro scored a goal in stoppage time of the first half, any hopes for a comeback were dashed when Rodrygo scored a stunning goal in the second half. Almeria’s Robertone managed to find the net in the 60th minute, but Madrid’s defense held strong for the remainder of the match.
Despite the victory, Ancelotti might be concerned about his team’s defensive struggles as they have conceded six goals in their last two matches. With a Champions League semi-final clash against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City looming, the team will need to tighten up at the back.
Real Madrid’s attack continued to put pressure on Almeria, with Benzema narrowly missing a penalty and hitting the post in the final moments of the game. Madrid substitute Marco Asensio also struck the woodwork twice, and Eduardo Camavinga had a goal disallowed for offside against Vazquez.
Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos praised his team’s performance, saying, “We played a really complete game, on an attacking level we were really good on a pitch where it was difficult to play just a few touches.” Real Madrid plans to replace the deteriorating Bernabeu pitch before their crucial match against Manchester City in May.
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