For his first match after the Golden Ball coronation and the Clasico quietly won against Barça (3-1) where he was a scorer, Karim Benzema (captain) was a good starter this evening for the trip to the last of the championship, Elche, on behalf of the 10th day of La Liga. Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti did not take this game lightly and made just two changes to the usual 4-3-3 from the FC Barcelona encounter. Antonio Rüdiger (without his mask) returns to the starting lineup in place of Ferland Mendy in central defense, replacing Alaba as left-back, Tchouameni has given way to Rodrygo, right winger, bringing Valverde back into the middle three with Modric and Kroos. For the rest, it did not change with Lunin who was still in goal, instead of Thibaut Courtois, winner of the Yachine trophy. On the Elche side, former Ligue 1 players Javier Pastore and Pol Lirola were on the bench.
In a great atmosphere at the Manuel Martínez Valero stadium, the last winner of the Champions League unsurprisingly kept the ball with a lot of movement, before opening the scoring in the 6th minute of play by the inevitable Karim Benzema, finally signaled offside by a slightly too advanced position of Vinicius Jr, after a magnificent game in triangle with Modric and Rodrygo. After multiple assaults, the Merengues ended up validating a first goal (0-1, 11th) by the man in form of the moment, Fede Valverde, on a dry strike outside left foot outside the area, ending in the skylight right of the doorman of Elche, who could not do anything. A missile allowing him to score his sixth goal of the season.
The eleven outfield players were involved, especially in the first half with fast, precise transmissions, with disconcerting technical ease in small spaces. A sign that Real was having a good night, it was the Austrian left-back David Alaba who came to make the score worse (26th) but still slightly offside on a service from KB9 after a good climb and collective action. Elche did not want to surrender immediately despite a lot of time spent in their camp, asking Real goalkeeper Lunin twice (28th, 30th). Jorge Almiron’s men put their foot on the ball a little more, while going out on their opponent before the break, despite a big Madrid domination.
Benzema superstar!
Even if Elche returned from the locker room with better intentions than in the first act, like the recovery of the Argentinian Lucas Boyé unscrewed (47th) following a nice delivery from Nico Fernández in one touch, Le Real continued to control the proceedings. The two coaches decided to bring in new blood on the hour mark with the entries of Ferrandez for Milla on the Elche side and Tchouameni for Modric on the White House side. The new French Ballon d’Or almost got everyone to agree with a big powerful strike from the right (50th) forcing Edgar Badia to work. Before, by a world-class sequence, punish Elche for the second time of the evening but still refused for an offside position. Definitely! Third goal of the evening denied to Real Madrid.
Amazing in the game, in the goals too. Ukrainian Andriy Lenin ensured in the absence of the Courtois wall with a save (70th). Despite the series of matches with the C1 and the championship, the Merengues continued to produce the game. And this time it was the right one for Karim Benzema, who, on a superb delivery from Rodrygo from the penalty spot, comes put his flat foot (0-2, 75th) rewarding his excellent match, with a big activity and a big volume of play that we know him. Camavinga author of a great breakthrough (87th), Asensio scorer from the right (0-3, 89th) on a fine service from Rodrygo, Nacho and Vazquez also participated in the celebration by coming into play a few minutes from time. With a good contribution from the bench, the Merengues remained serious, applied, until the end this evening to get rid of, finally quietly, this brave team from Elche.
La Liga standings here.
