Real Madrid won 3-2 on Saturday night against Malaga with goals from Karim Benzema and his team-mates Casemiro and Cristiano Ronaldo, a difficult success for the 13th week that launches the operation “comeback” to reduce the gap on the standings leader Barcelona.
The Los Blancos are currently at fourth in the La Liga table standings with 27 points, 3 points behind Valencia and 7 points behind Barcelona.
Benzema, he quickly opened the mark of the head to push the bottom of Ronaldo’s attempt on the crossbar in the 9th minute, the second goal of the French in this Spanish La Liga.
Admittedly, after the first equalisation of Malaga in the 18th minute, Casemiro quickly gave the advantage to the Madrilenians a powerful header on corner in 21st minute.
But Zidane’s side seemed to play a little in their hand, without bending a meeting they dominated widely. Especially as Real was lucky not concede another goal on a lobed head of Paul Baysse who made a hit but was canceled for a preliminary lack obvious in 45+3 minute.
“We can and we must play better, yes. Karim scored, Cristano scored and we will retain the positive. We took the three points but we have to do things better.” Zidane said after the match.
At 2-1 at the break, Real was not immune and their defense gave worrying signs of weakness. The visitors did draw level just before the hour mark in any case and again it was the home team error that allowed the to do so, as Casilla inexplicably allowed a hopeful Chory strike from distance to creep past him and into the bottom corner.
Ronaldo met twice the goalkeeper, always lacking success in the finish, the excellent Roberto, on a shot without control of the left and on ahead in extension at the first post. But he preserved and when Luka Modric suffered a siege in the box, the quadruple Ballon d’Or winner took responsibility in 75th minute by hitting the penalty spot.
Cristiano Ronaldo scores to give Real 3-2 win over Malaga. (Source:www.dailymirror.co.uk)
Roberto stopped his shot but Ronaldo had followed, he sent the ball to the bottom to free the Bernabeu stadium and free himself from a weight he is a favorite for obtaining a fifth Ballon d’Or December.
In their next game, Real Madrid will host Fuenlabrada in the Copa Del Rey at the Bernabeu stadium before they resume La Liga against Athletic Bilbao on next weekend.