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Sports, Football

Benzema misses penalties in Real win


By AFP
Published : 21 Apr 2022 11:57 PM

Karim Benzema missed two penalties in seven minutes Wednesday but Real Madrid still had enough to defeat Osasuna 3-1 as they continued their march towards the LaLiga title.

Benzema was looking for his 45th goal of the season but was twice denied by Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera, who both times dived to his right and both times made the save with Real leading 2-1 at El Sadar.

But Osasuna were unable to find an equalizer in the second half and Real added a third in injury-time, Vinicius Junior teeing up Lucas Vazquez for an easy finish.

David Alaba's opener had earlier been cancelled out by Osasuna's Ante Budimir, before Marco Asensio restored Real's advantage on the stroke of half-time.

Carlo Ancelotti was unconcerned by Benzema's misses from the spot.

Real move 17 points clear at the top of LaLiga, ahead of Atletico Madrid, who missed the chance to pull away in the race for the top four after being held to a goalless draw by Granada.

The stalemate means Atletico move up to second in the table but could be overtaken by both Barcelona and Sevilla Thursday.

Barca play at Real Sociedad after Sevilla travel to Levante.

Real Betis, who were beaten by Elche Tuesday, are four points behind Atletico in fifth.

Ancelotti started Toni Kroos and Vinicius on the bench while Luka Modric was left out of the squad completely, with the first leg of Real's Champions League semi-final against Manchester City less than a week away.

Alaba went off in the second half but Ancelotti said the problem does not seem serious.

Alaba put Real in front in the 13th minute, bundling in the rebound after Benzema had tapped the ball across, but the advantage was brief as Budimir knocked in Chimy Avila's pass to the back post a minute later.

Real restored their lead at the end of the half as Asensio played inside from the right wing and continued his run into the penalty box.

Eduardo Camavinga chipped to the left side of the box and while Dani Ceballos' effort was saved, Asensio's run was rewarded with a simple finish.

Benzema's pair of penalties came in the 52nd and 59th minutes, both won by Rodrygo Goes, whose sharp turn tempted Avila into a handball on the ground before Nacho Vidal stumbled into the back of the Brazilian.