Karim Benzema converted two first-half penalty kicks in Real Madrid바카라s 4-0 win over Elche on Wednesday and became the team바카라s second-highest scorer in the Spanish league with 230 goals.
Marco Asensio and Luka Modric also scored as Madrid won at home to get back within eight points of Barcelona in a game postponed because of the Club World Cup.
Madrid won its eighth world club title last weekend in Morocco. Barcelona had increased its league lead with a 1-0 win at Villarreal on Sunday.
The 35-year-old Benzema entered the match even with Madrid great RaĂșl with 228 league goals 바카라 second to Cristiano Ronaldo바카라s 311.
바카라Benzema is much more than just a striker,바카라 Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. 바카라He is a very complete player. He has a fantastic career and hopefully he will keep adding to it.바카라
It was Benzema바카라s fifth goal in his last six matches. He had also scored in the Club World Cup final against Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal after being out for a brief period because of an injury.
The Club World Cup trophy was displayed to the fans at the Santiago BernabĂ©u Stadium before Wednesday바카라s match and Elche바카라s players did the guard of honor for Madrid바카라s squad.
Madrid had won only one of its last three league matches and was coming off a loss at Mallorca before traveling to Morocco.
바카라We knew we had to win, it was important to keep pace with Barcelona,바카라 Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos said. 바카라Eight points in not an insurmountable gap. This team will keep fighting until the last match.바카라
Madrid got the win despite playing without several regular starters. Forward VinĂcius JĂșnior was out because of a suspension on accumulation of yellow cards. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, midfielder Toni Kroos, forward Eden Hazard and defender Ferland Mendy were all out injured.
Asensio opened the scoring in the eighth minute before Benzema got his goals from the penalty spot in the 31st and in the first minute of first-half stoppage time. Modric closed the scoring with a shot into the top corner from inside the area in the 80th.
Last-place Elche arrived 12 points from safety but was boosted by its first league win of the season against Villarreal on Saturday. It has nine points from 21 matches.
Madrid next visits ninth-place Osasuna on Saturday, while Elche hosts 17th-place Espanyol on Sunday.
