Carlo Ancelotti has sounded a note of warning to the rest of LaLiga and Europe over Karim Benzema, as the french striker’s late brace against 10-man Real Valladolid sent Real Madrid to the top of LaLiga on Friday night.
Madrid looked set to be frustrated at the Jose Zorrilla Stadium in their first game after the World Cup, with Benzema squandering a gilt-edged first-half chance.
However, the France international who missed Qatar 2022 through injury made amends as he converted from the penalty spot with seven minutes remaining before sealing victory six minutes later.
Valladolid saw forward Sergio Leon sent off for dissent after the award of Benzema’s penalty as Madrid dug deep to go one point clear of Barca, who play their game in hand at home to Espanyol on Saturday.
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Madrid’s appeals for a 10th-minute penalty were dismissed despite Javi Sanchez appearing to handle on the line after blocking a drilled effort from Marco Asensio.
Benzema inexplicably blazed over from six yards after Jordi Masip parried Vinicius Junior’s strike, before Thibaut Courtois expertly denied Alvaro Aguado prior to half-time.
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Courtois then produced another fine stop from Leon’s header, while Masip pushed Benzema’s low curler around the post.
However, Madrid’s big chance came when Sanchez was adjudged to have handled from the resulting corner by VAR, with Benzema firing into the bottom-left corner from 12 yards after Leon was dismissed for his protests to the officials.
The Madrid striker made sure of all three points after a selfless Eduardo Camavinga pass allowed him to finish past Masip.
“I see Benzema very motivated, and I think you will see a different Benzema from now on in 2023,” Ancelotti warned about his striker in a post-match interview.
“The result first, the performance of Thibaut [Courtois], the two goals of Karim. We finished this year, that was an amazing year, in the best way.
“It was really difficult. We started well, then we had difficulties, did well first half, did well at the end of the game. It’s quite normal after you come back after a long holiday, it’s not easy.“
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