Thursday, March 28, 2024

Las Palmas 0 Real Madrid 3: Benzema scores on 400th appearance

SoccerNews in La Liga 31 Mar 2018

110 Views

Karim Benzema scored on his 400th Real Madrid appearance and Gareth Bale celebrated a brace as Zinedine Zidane’s side warmed up for their Champions League quarter-final with Juventus by beating Las Palmas 3-0 in LaLiga.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Toni Kroos and Marcelo were all rested by Zidane with an eye on Tuesday’s first leg in Turin, but Madrid showed no signs of missing their star men at the Estadio de Gran Canaria on Saturday.

Bale put Madrid on track in the 26th minute by running on to a tremendous throughball from Luka Modric and thumping a drive past home goalkeeper Leandro Chichizola.

Benzema struck from 12 yards after Jonathan Calleri brought down Lucas Vazquez in the penalty area and Bale added his 10th club goal of 2018 in all competitions with another spot-kick.

A fourth successive league win moves Madrid within a point of second-placed city rivals Atletico Madrid, who host Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday, but the champions’ main focus is on winning a third straight Champions League crown with Barcelona well clear at the top.

Captain Sergio Ramos missed the game with a knock and Nacho Fernandez added to Zidane’s defensive injury problems by limping off in the first half, the Spain international left in tears on the bench after appearing to damage his ankle.

Calleri fired a fifth-minute warning shot but his rifled effort flew narrowly wide and Keylor Navas had to dive to his left to push away Alen Halilovic’s strike as Las Palmas started well.

Chichizola denied Benzema after the striker ignored the well-placed Vazquez, before the goalkeeper then superbly turned Marco Asensio’s shot around the post.

Home goalkeeper Chichizola could do nothing as Madrid took the lead in the 26th minute, though.

Modric’s pass sent Bale scampering down the left wing, beating the offside trap, and Wales’ newly crowned record goalscorer smashed home a powerful finish.

Madrid’s second followed from the penalty spot as Calleri was penalised for a clumsy foul on Vazquez, with Benzema ensuring he celebrated his landmark appearance with a goal by sending Chichizola the wrong way with his spot-kick.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

SoccerNews

Soccernews.com is news blog for soccer with comprehensive coverage of all the major leagues in Europe, as well as MLS in the United States. In addition we offer breaking news for transfers and transfer rumors, ticket sales, betting tips and offers, match previews, and in-depth editorials.

You can follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/soccernews.com or Twitter: @soccernewsfeed.

SHARE OR COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE

WE RECOMMEND

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This field is required *

Join the conversation!

or Register

Live Scores

advertisement

Betting Guide Advertisement

advertisement

Become a Writer
More More
Top