- Karim Benzema - 59', 81'
- Marc Cardona - 39'
Benzema double seals Real Madrid comeback win over Eibar
Karim Benzema scored two headers to seal a 2-1 comeback win for Real Madrid at home against Eibar in La Liga.
After Wednesday's 2-1 loss at Valencia, a Bernabeu stadium that was only two-thirds full saw Marc Cardona's goal give Eibar, who won the reverse fixture 3-0 back in November, the lead just before half-time.
Benzema levelled for Zinedine Zidane's side just before the hour mark, before completing the fightback in the final 10 minutes.
Madrid coach Zidane left midfielders Toni Kroos and Casemiro on the bench, preferring instead to play Federico Valverde alongside Luka Modric and Isco.
Madrid struggled to find their rhythm as Gareth Bale -- who was regularly booed by the home fans -- and Benzema failed to connect in attack while Eibar looked a regular threat in wide areas, and the visitors took a deserved lead in the run-up to half-time.
Marc Cucurella, on loan from Barcelona, fed Gonzalo Escalante from the left wing. Escalante spotted the gaps in the Madrid defence and threaded a pass across the area for Cardona to lift over the helpless Keylor Navas.
Benzema thought he had scored the equaliser 10 minutes into the second half, when he tapped into the empty net following a mix-up between goalkeeper Marko Dimitrovic and one of his defenders, but the VAR review showed the French striker had been slightly offside when the move began.
However, he did get on the scoresheet a few minutes later, when Marco Asensio's good work on the right wing allowed the Spain international to cross and Benzema finished with a downward header at the far post.
Bale and Modric made way for Lucas Vazquez and Kroos, and the latter contributed to creating the winning goal. The midfielder combined for a short corner routine, and the cross was once again nodded home by Benzema.
The striker was denied a hat trick in the closing stages by Dimitrovic, before missing an open goal moments later, but he had already contributed enough to secure the win.
Game Information
Spanish LALIGA Standings
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barcelona | 13 | 11 | 0 | 2 | +28 | 33 |
| Real Madrid | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | +14 | 27 |
| Atlético Madrid | 13 | 7 | 5 | 1 | +12 | 26 |
| Villarreal | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | +4 | 24 |
| Osasuna | 13 | 6 | 3 | 4 | -3 | 21 |
| Athletic Club | 13 | 5 | 5 | 3 | +6 | 20 |
| Real Betis | 13 | 5 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 20 |
| Real Sociedad | 13 | 5 | 3 | 5 | +1 | 18 |
| Mallorca | 13 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 18 |
| Girona | 13 | 5 | 3 | 5 | -1 | 18 |
| Celta Vigo | 13 | 5 | 2 | 6 | -2 | 17 |
| Rayo Vallecano | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 16 |
| Sevilla | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | -6 | 15 |
| Leganés | 13 | 3 | 5 | 5 | -3 | 14 |
| Alavés | 13 | 4 | 1 | 8 | -8 | 13 |
| Las Palmas | 13 | 3 | 3 | 7 | -6 | 12 |
| Getafe | 13 | 1 | 7 | 5 | -3 | 10 |
| Espanyol | 12 | 3 | 1 | 8 | -11 | 10 |
| Real Valladolid | 13 | 2 | 3 | 8 | -15 | 9 |
| Valencia | 11 | 1 | 4 | 6 | -9 | 7 |
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