MADRID – Real Madrid footballers surprisingly hesitated in the 22nd round of the Spanish La Liga, when they only drew with Elche 2: 2 at home. The striker of the meeting was the home forward Karim Benzema. In the opening half, he did not convert the penalty kick to 0: 0. In the 58th minute, he had to substitute for a muscle injury and subsequently learned the news that unknown thieves had looted a luxury house during his absence.
The leader of the table had a territorial advantage over Elche from the beginning, but the chances remained untapped. After half an hour of play, he kicked Helibelton Palacio’s foul on Vinicius Junior in the penalty area, but the best league scorer Benzema shot the goal from the white point. The visitors kept the pressure on to tie the game when, after 42 minutes, Lucas Boye broke through the center and found himself alone with the keeper. After the change of sides, the arbiter ordered a second penalty kick for the home team after the fall of Eden Hazard in the opponent’s 16th, but after being notified by the video referee, he repeatedly looked at the dispute at the monitor and called off the penalty. Elche then shocked the favorite for the second time, a quarter of an hour before the end of Pere Mil, he crossed the Thibaut Courtois with a cross shot on the ground. Casemiro immediately hit the crossbar on the other side. Real did not have a good day today, often losing his footing on the muddy pitch. Luka Modrič was the replacement. The home crowd was not impressed by the fancy moves of Viniciusa Juniora’s Eder Militao after 92 minutes. He converted a pass from the left for a goal, resulting in the visitors taking the lead.
“This match didn’t make sense. We lost two points, so we can’t be happy with the result. However, I liked how we fought in the end and at least drew a draw. But overall we are in a good position, we continue in the Royal Cup, the Champions League and we lead the home team. league, ” Real coach Carlo Ancelotti said.
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Source: SITA / AP / Manu Fernandez
Benzem’s anguish began at the beginning, when he threw away a great chance to open the score. In the 58th minute, he had to leave the field due to an injury, leaving the back thigh muscle on the left leg as he left the lawn. After the substitution, he headed straight for the locker room. After the match, Ancelotti confirmed that the French gunner had a different type of injury with which he had worked a few weeks ago. According to the Spanish media, it should not be more serious and the rotation was more of a preventive step. “I believe he won’t be absent any longer.” said the Italian coach.
Benzem’s unfortunate evening was underlined by a report that unknown perpetrators had robbed him of a luxury residence in San Sebastian de los Reyes during the match. According to Spanish media, thieves broke into it through the garden. No one was in the house during the robbery.
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Source: SITA / AP / Manu Fernandez
Real did not take the opportunity to highlight the lead at the top of the table by six points after Saturday’s hesitation of the second Seville, which tied with Celta Vigo 2: 2. He is four points ahead of the Andalusians. Elche has not lost four consecutive matches in the league and is in 15th place. The guests would take the point before the match, but they felt disappointed with the course. “It’s hard to accept. We had Madrid on our knees, but we couldn’t get more out of it,” noted the author of the second goal of the guests Milla.
Elche was missing several players due to injuries and coronavirus, as well as coach Francisco Rodriguez. Both opponents met in a duel four days ago, Real succeeded in the round of 16 in the home cup on Elche 2: 1 after extra time, when he turned the score in with goals from Isca and Hazard.
Barcelona also suffered, winning the 1-0 victory on the ground of the penultimate team of the Alaves competition. Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong decided the three-point win with a goal from the 87th minute, when he pushed through after the pass of Jordi Albu for the defense and the pass of Ferran Torres. “When we lost in the Real Madrid Cup, we were happy with our game, but we didn’t win. This time it was the other way around – we’re not happy with the performance, but three points are golden for us.” Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez said.
The Catalans moved up in fifth place in the table ahead of San Sebastian, who only played a goalless draw to save the fighting Getafe. The fourth is Atletico Madrid, behind which “Barca” is one point behind. The two teams will run into each other on February 6 at Camp Nou. “We are fighting for every point and this result is very useful for us. It is a key victory for us in the fight for the top places. The international break will come in handy, the players will be able to finish and we will be able to work on our game,” quoted Xavi by AP. Barcelona have won only two of the last ten matches in the league. “This victory will give us confidence. We will continue to work hard on each other and try to get closer to our goals.” added defender Jordi Alba.
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Number of photos: 6
- The author: © List
- Source: TASR