Playing his first match since his World Cup hopes were dashed by an injury, Karim Benzema came the rescue of Real Madrid with a pair of late goals to snatch a 2-0 victory at 10-man Valladolid on Friday.
Benzema had a subdued showing in his first competitive match since Nov. 2 following injuries that had limited his availability for his club and finally sidelined him for his France at soccer바카라s elite competition.
But the Ballon d바카라Or winner came through in the final minutes to give Carlo Ancelotti바카라s side the three points it needed to provisionally move to the top of the Spanish league standings.
Madrid also relied on goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to keep the score deadlocked as it struggled to create chances in its first game since the league paused for seven weeks for the tournament in Qatar.
Valladolid defended well and threatened on the break at its José Zorrilla stadium until the game finally swung in Madrid바카라s favor when the video assistant referee spotted a handball in the area by defender Javi Sánchez.
Benzema stepped up and coolly slotted his penalty kick into the left corner as goalkeeper Jordi Masip fell the other way to grab the lead in the 83rd minute.
Valladolid바카라s chances of hunting for a late equalizer were hurt when striker Sergio León, one of its most incisive players, was shown a direct red card apparently for using inappropriate language while protesting the penalty decision.
Benzema then got his brace in the 89th after a pass by substitute Eduardo Camavinga.
바카라Benzema played very well given that he had barely played in the last three months,바카라 Courtois said. 바카라Maybe he was lacking a bit of pace. I bet the Karim of last year would have scored even more goals, but it is good for him to get this double.바카라
Before Benzema put Madrid ahead, Courtois made two great saves to deny León and midfielder Álvaro Aguado. Courtois used a one-handed diving save to stop Aguado바카라s long-range strike in the first half. He then got low to turn back León바카라s header in the 68th.
바카라Courtois바카라 saves were decisive,바카라 said Valladolid coach Pacheta Martín, whose team slid into 15th place.
Madrid moved one point ahead of Barcelona at the top of the standings before Xavi Hernández바카라s side plays a derby against Espanyol on Saturday.
Before kickoff, a moment of silence was held in memory of Brazil great Pelé, who died on Thursday. Ronaldo, the former Brazil and Madrid star and the current owner of Valladolid, stood alongside Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez in the stands during the tribute. Brazil forward Vinícius Júnior closed his eyes and lifted his head upwards in midfield with the other players.
SEVILLA STALLED
Sevilla remained in the relegation zone after a 1-1 draw at Celta Vigo.
Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli overhauled his attacking scheme after playmaker Isco Alarcón, who had been used as a 바카라false nine바카라 before the World Cup break, left the club by mutual agreement last week. In his place, Sampaoli started his two big strikers, Youssef En-Nesyri and Rafa Mir.
Celta바카라s Gabri Veiga chipped Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou in the 33rd after Iago Aspas met his run with a perfectly weighted pass after Veiga had recovered the ball. It was the 20-year-old Veiga바카라s fourth goal of the season.
After Sevilla failed to generate scoring chances in the first half, Sampaoli sent on Erik Lamela for En-Nesyri at halftime.
Monents after Celta바카라s goalkeeper pushed Lamela바카라s shot onto the post, Kike Salas headed in the resulting corner kick to level the score in the 54th.
Sevilla finished with 10 men after José Carmona was shown a second yellow card in the 86th.
Argentina defender and world champion Marcos Acuña started for Sevilla.
OTHER RESULTS
Borja Mayoral struck twice in the second half to help earn Getafe to a 2-0 win over Mallorca.
Lucas Pérez바카라s late goal salvaged Cádiz a 1-1 draw at home with Almería.
