MADRID (REUTERS) – A primary-half objective from Karim Benzema gave Actual Madrid a 1-0 win at house in opposition to a feisty Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday (Dec 1) to maneuver them seven factors clear on the high of LaLiga.
After coming from behind to beat Sevilla 2-1 on Sunday, Actual had a sport in hand to play in opposition to Athletic they usually took benefit of the chance to take management on the summit.
Benzema put in one other excellent efficiency, scoring Actual’s winner 5 minutes earlier than the break.
Bilbao keeper Unai Simon saved a Marco Asensio shot from outdoors the realm, Luka Modric mis-hit the rebound and it landed on the ft of Benzema, who completed into the empty internet.
The France striker celebrated with the Actual followers, who chanted “Benzema is Ballon d’Or” after he missed out on the award for the most effective participant on the earth earlier within the week.
“Benzema deserved to win the Ballon d’Or,” keeper Thibaut Courtois instructed reporters. “It was bizarre. Seems just like the voters solely take a look at what occurs in Copa America and the Euros, do not take a look at the season as an entire.”
It was a freezing, wet night time at Santiago Bernabeu, the place the followers are getting used to gathering between scaffolding and large metal girders as Actual Madrid proceed the €800-million (S$1.2 billion) renovation of their emblematic stadium whereas nonetheless internet hosting video games.
Actual received their fifth straight sport however they had been removed from their current dominant type and Athletic had as many clear alternatives to equalise as the house workforce did for scoring a second objective.
The distinction was Benzema, who began strongly and nearly scored twice within the first 10 minutes, stopped each instances by rock-solid Spain worldwide Unai Simon.
Actual have received their final seven matches in LaLiga and the Champions League. They’re unbeaten in all competitions since dropping 2-1 to Espanyol on Oct 3.