Los Blancos secured a 2-0 home victory over Eibar in La Liga at Valdebebas on Saturday afternoon.
Marco Asensio opened the scoring for the hosts with Karim Benzema securing the result in the second half, sending Madrid above Barcelona and just three points behind Atletico Madrid at the top of the table.
Madrid had two goals disallowed inside the first half, with Benzema seeing his effort ruled out before Asensio suffered the same fate. Asensio got his goal soon after, however, when Casemiro seized on a loose ball in midfield before putting it on a plate for the man from the Balearic Islands to finish.
7 – Karim Benzema 🇫🇷 is recording his best scoring streak for @realmadriden in all competitions ever (seven games in a row, nine goals). Monsieur#RealMadridEibar pic.twitter.com/a3qKuI9N0u
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) April 3, 2021
Benzema then scored in his seventh consecutive game and make it 2-0 to Madrid, sealing the victory and putting pressure on their two rivals for this season’s title. Benzema’s remarkable run is the best streak he’s managed in his career to date and has taken him to 17 goals in 24 La Liga appearances this season.
🏁 FT: @realmadriden 2-0 @SDEibarEN
⚽ @marcoasensio10 41', @Benzema 73'#Emirates | #RealMadridEibar pic.twitter.com/EAUnKpZrdD— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) April 3, 2021
“We are facing an important week, and the first important thing was to win today,” said Asensio, after scoring the third goal in as many games.
“Now we have the first leg against Liverpool and then Barcelona. They will be very demanding matches and we have to be up to the challenge.” With Sergio Ramos out with a left-leg injury, Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane rested his other first-choice center back, Raphael Varane, for the matches ahead.
Backups Nacho Fernández and Éder Militão started in a three-man backline along with Ferland Mendy. Toni Kroos was also rested, giving Isco Alarcón a spot in the starting 11.
Madrid dominated the game throughout. Eibar needed goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic to save a one-on-one chance for Benzema three minutes into the match after defender Alejandro Pozo made a horrible pass that was poached by the Madrid striker in the box.
Asensio bent a free-kick off the crossbar before he took the opener.
Casemiro intercepted a pass and immediately sent the ball forward for Asensio, who used superb control to go past defender Anaitz Arbilla before curling a shot over Dmitrovic.
Eibar had been limited to two long-range efforts from midfielder Pape Diop in the first half.
Its attack was further diminished when forward Bryan Gil, who debuted for Spain last week, had to be substituted at halftime for an apparent leg injury.
But the visitors have almost gifted an equalizer with half an hour to play after heavy rain and strong winds. A tame-looking pass from Lucas Vázquez back to Thibaut Courtois slipped past him and the Madrid goalkeeper had to slide to kick the ball clear before it crossed his goal-line.
After that scare, Benzema put the result beyond doubt when substitute Vinícius Júnior crossed for him to score his 18th league goal of the season.
Eibar remained in the relegation zone after 12 rounds without a win.
“We barely bothered them in the first half,” Eibar striker Kike García said. “We knew this would be a hard game.”
Madrid moved to within three points of leader Atlético Madrid, which faces a tough test at fourth-place Sevilla on Sunday. Barcelona is four points back before it plays Valladolid on Monday.
Madrid hosts Liverpool on Tuesday in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Four days later it will play Barcelona in a key match in the Spanish league, followed by its second leg at Liverpool on April 14.
