Actual Madrid may win La Liga on Monday after a routine 2-Zero win over Alaves on Friday put them inside touching distance of the title. With suspended skipper Sergio Ramos sitting within the stands, Karim Benzema took over the armband after which penalty duties, firing in from the spot earlier than teeing up Marco Asensio so as to add a second on the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium. After restoring their four-point benefit on the prime of the desk, the stress is again on Barcelona. If Barca fail to win away at Actual Valladolid on Saturday, Madrid will clinch the title with two video games to spare by beating Granada on Monday at Los Carmenes.
But even when Madrid have to attend, it appears inevitable they are going to hoist the trophy given additionally they boast the superior head-to-head report towards Barcelona with three video games left.
Madrid can afford to attract two of these, even when Barcelona handle three victories out of three.
“We nonetheless do not know what’s going to occur,” mentioned Actual coach Zinedine Zidane. “La Liga may be very arduous and we now have three finals nonetheless to go.”
“Now we have to remain targeted,” added Raphael Varane.
After sacking their coach Asier Garitano final week following 5 consecutive defeats Alaves by no means appeared prone to trigger an upset.
This loss in Juan Ramon Lopez Muniz’s first recreation in cost leaves them hovering above the relegation zone, solely three factors forward of Actual Mallorca, who’ve hope after their win over Levante on Thursday.
Zidane can be relieved all the identical, significantly as he needed to do with no string of key gamers.
Ramos and Dani Carvajal had been each banned whereas Marcelo was injured, taking out three of Madrid’s common again 4.
Eden Hazard was unable to start out however got here on within the second half to ease issues about niggling issues together with his ankle.
A makeshift defence, together with Lucas Vazquez at right-back, chalked up one other clear sheet, Madrid’s fifth in a row for the primary time in 12 years. Additionally it is their sixth in eight gams because the restart.
Alaves may need broke that run within the first jiffy as Joselu headed towards the crossbar and Lucas Perez’s follow-up needed to be cleared off the road by Varane.
Eder Militao then needed to make a superbly timed problem to forestall Perez going clear.
However Madrid survived after which took the lead within the 11th minute, Ferland Mendy driving to the road and taking place beneath the sliding sort out of Ximo Navarro, who caught him together with his trailing leg.
Benzema scored the penalty for his 23rd aim of the season.
Oliver Burke twice brought on Madrid issues with weaving runs ahead earlier than Benzema damage his neck from a clumsy fall on the stroke of half-time.
Benzema was in a position to proceed however injured referee Gil Manzano was changed by Rodriguez Carpallo, whose first huge determination was to permit Madrid’s second aim.
Rodrygo did nicely to muscle his means by way of midfield earlier than releasing Benzema, who appeared offside however sped ahead and side-footed for Asensio to faucet in. Replays confirmed Benzema had timed his run and the aim stood.
Promoted
Thibaut Courtois needed to make two sensible saves however Madrid had been cruising by the top.
Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior ought to have made it three when queueing up on the again publish however two was sufficient.
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