A Real Madrid of ups and downs defeats Almería
A hat-trick from Benzema led the Merengue victory (4-2) in a match with flashes in attack and failures in defense
MADRID, 29 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid beat UD Almería 4-2 this Saturday in a match full of ups and downs, corresponding to matchday 32 of LaLiga Santander and in which a hat-trick from French striker Karim Benzema washed the Merengues’ wounds for his unexpected defeat at Montilivi.
At the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Carlo Ancelotti’s pupils returned to action four days after their bad image in the visit to Girona, which resulted in a win (4-2) that practically buried the options of the Merengue team in their fight for the league title.
Despite this, Real Madrid is immersed in its most attractive moment of the season par excellence. A week away from playing the final of the Copa del Rey, and on the eve of facing Manchester City in the semifinals of the Champions League, this duel against Almería was presented as a certain revalidation.
In fact, Benzema was in charge of clearing up any doubt after five minutes. His usual alliance with Vinicius Jr. paid off with the early 1-0 draw, thanks to a run by the Brazilian down the left flank. After trimming the rival defender with a touch, Vinicius centered with his typical outside strike with three fingers.
Well positioned among the central defenders from Almería, Benzema finished off almost at will to open an account that he himself lasted after fifteen minutes. Following a gallop by Lucas Vázquez down the right wing, he passed the ball to Rodrygo Goes, who on the baseline invented a back-heeled dribble over Samú Costa.
The ’21’ madridista, getting away from Costa, crossed backwards for Benzema to score the 2-0 scoreline from the heart of the area. The French striker’s hat-trick came just before half-time, when Largie Ramazani scored an obvious penalty, tripping Lucas Vázquez; deceiving the visiting goalkeeper with his shot, Benzema rounded off his great afternoon.
There was still time for another target before the intermission, as Madrid then began to show relaxation in their own area. In order to correct his previous mistake, Ramazani found a loophole between the lines to assist Lázaro, who appeared at the far post behind Antonio Rüdiger to clinch the 3-1 lead.
RODRYGO’S POWERFUL FIRE
As soon as the second half began, Rodrygo made it 4-1 with a flawless right hand. Having received the ball on the edge of the box, he turned before any Almería defender could make him nervous. And without delay, the young Brazilian hit an unstoppable high shot for Fernando Martínez.
All the brilliance in offensive tasks was clouded at times with the fragility that was also glimpsed when the visiting team tried without luck. However, the paradox meant that Thibaut Courtois had little work to do, except to pick up the ball from the back of the net in what had made it 4-2.
The 61st minute was running when the Merengues players failed in an exit from their area, which caused Fran Portillo to receive at the peak of the area; he executed a zigzag and pumped a cross to the head of Lucas Robertone, author of that goal thanks to the passivity of the opposing center-backs.
Two shots on the post in the first half, another three shots on the post in the second half, a penalty on Benzema annulled at the behest of the VAR… The number of goals could well have been higher for an Almería team that is left with 33 points on the brink of the relegation places. For their part, those of Ancelotti reached 68 to continue in second place.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: REAL MADRID, 4 – ALMERÍA, 2 (3-1, at halftime).
–LINEUPS:
REAL MADRID: Courtois; Lucas Vazquez, Militao, Rüdiger, Camavinga; Chives, Tchouameni, Kroos (Nacho, min.72); Rodrygo (Asensio, min.72), Benzema and Vinicius (Carvajal, min.82).
ALMERIA: Fernando; Mendes, Chumi, Ely, Akieme (Melero, min.75); Puigmal (Eguaras, min.57), Portillo, De la Hoz (Robertone, min.57), Costa (Centelles, min.75); Ramazani (Luis Suárez, min.65) and Lázaro.
–GOALS:
1-0, min. 5: Benzema.
2-0, min.17: Benzema.
3-0, min.42: Benzema (p).
3-1, min. 45+1: Lázaro.
4-1, min.47: Rodrygo.
4-2, min.61: Robertone.
–REFEREE: Cuadra Fernández (C. Balearic Islands). He yellow carded Vinicius (min.37) and Camavinga (min.74) at Real Madrid; and to Lázaro (min.66) and Mendes (min.67) in Almería.
–STADIUM: Santiago Bernabéu, 58,036 spectators.