Real Madrid 3-0 Valencia: Karim Benzema moves fifth on club’s all-time scorer list
Karim Benzema became Real Madrid’s fifth all-time leading goalscorer with a double in a victory over Valencia, which closed the gap on league leaders Barcelona to two points.
Benzema, 32, has now netted 243 goals in all competitions for Real, overtaking Ferenc Puskas’ tally.
Ex-Chelsea forward Eden Hazard set up his first goal on the hour before Benzema scored a stunning late volley.
Substitute Marco Asensio scored Real’s second with his first touch.
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Benzema’s second goal, which came deep into the second half, was a superb piece of skill, involving a flick and volley which caused manager Zinedine Zidane to put his head in his hands in disbelief.
The Frenchman’s goal, assisted by substitute Asensio, capped off a brilliant second-half performance from Real.
Spaniard Asensio, who suffered a knee injury last summer and has missed almost the entirety of this season, came on in the 73rd minute and guided a volley from Ferland Mendy’s cross into the net 30 seconds later to make it 2-0.
But Benzema’s volley was a contender for goal of the season and confirmed his place among some of the greatest strikers in Real’s history.
There was plenty of positives for Hazard too – his partnership with Benzema is blossoming and his assist for the Frenchman’s first set Real on their way.
Hazard, who joined from Chelsea for £150m in June 2019, had several shots on target in the first half but could not get the better of Valencia keeper Jasper Cillessen, who was in good form all evening.
And it was Valencia who thought they had struck first at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium – Real’s training ground – when Rodrigo had a goal ruled out for offside by VAR.
That decision, which saw referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez go over to the VAR screen at the side of the pitch, came moments after Rodrigo struck the outside of the right post.
But Real dominated after the break and it went from bad to worse for Valencia when substitute Lee Kang-In was shown a straight red card for several kicks at Sergio Ramos.
The result means Real Madrid sit two points behind Barcelona in second place ahead of their next game on Sunday away to Real Sociedad, while Barcelona travel to Sevilla on Friday.
Line-ups
Real Madrid
Substitutes
Valencia
Substitutes
Match Stats
Live Text
Match ends, Real Madrid 3, Valencia 0.
Full Time
Second Half ends, Real Madrid 3, Valencia 0.
Attempt missed. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Luka Modric with a cross.
Francis Coquelin went off injured after Valencia had used all subs.
Dismissal
Lee Kang-In (Valencia) is shown the red card.
Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Lee Kang-In (Valencia).
Hand ball by Eliaquim Mangala (Valencia).
Goal!
Goal! Real Madrid 3, Valencia 0. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Marco Asensio.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Jasper Cillessen.
Attempt saved. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.
Booking
Hugo Guillamón (Valencia) is shown the yellow card for hand ball.
Hand ball by Hugo Guillamón (Valencia).
Offside, Real Madrid. Karim Benzema tries a through ball, but Sergio Ramos is caught offside.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by José Gayà.
Substitution
Substitution, Real Madrid. Vinícius Júnior replaces Eden Hazard.
Corner, Valencia. Conceded by Daniel Carvajal.
Substitution
Substitution, Valencia. Lee Kang-In replaces Rodrigo Moreno.
Goal!
Goal! Real Madrid 2, Valencia 0. Marco Asensio (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ferland Mendy following a corner.
Substitution
Substitution, Real Madrid. Marco Asensio replaces Federico Valverde.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Hugo Guillamón.
Foul by Federico Valverde (Real Madrid).
José Gayà (Valencia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Valencia. Francis Coquelin replaces Daniel Parejo.
Substitution
Substitution, Valencia. Denis Cheryshev replaces Carlos Soler.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Jasper Cillessen.
Attempt saved. Luka Modric (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Eden Hazard.
Casemiro (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Gonçalo Guedes (Valencia).
Attempt missed. Eden Hazard (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Karim Benzema.
Goal!
Goal! Real Madrid 1, Valencia 0. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Eden Hazard.
Substitution
Substitution, Valencia. Kevin Gameiro replaces Maxi Gómez.
Substitution
Substitution, Valencia. Gonçalo Guedes replaces Ferran Torres.
Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Rodrigo Moreno (Valencia).
Attempt saved. Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Sergio Ramos.
Attempt blocked. Daniel Carvajal (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Luka Modric.
Foul by Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid).
Daniel Wass (Valencia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid).
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