Under-pressure striker Karim Benzema scored only his second league goal of the season to help Real Madrid record a narrow victory over Real Mallorca at the Bernabeu last night
Under-pressure striker Karim Benzema scored only his second league goal of the season to help Real Madrid record a narrow victory over Real Mallorca at the Bernabeu last night.
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| Real Madrid's Karim Benzema celebrates his goal against Mallorca during their Spanish League match in Madrid yesterday |
Benzema, who has struggled to impress since his big-money move from Lyon in 2009 and found himself under the spotlight as Madrid search for striking reinforcements, netted the only goal of the game in the 61st minute.
The victory saw Jose Mourinho's side cut the gap to leaders Barcelona back to four points. Having been held to a 1-1 draw by bottom club Almeria last weekend and seen Barca go seven points clear with their 3-0 win yesterday, Madrid knew they could not drop any points.
However, Madrid were fortunate not to be trailing at the break as Mallorca, who have beaten Sevilla and Valencia away this season as well as drawing with Barca at the Nou Camp, came within inches of taking the lead when they hit the woodwork in the 12th minute.
Emilio Nsue had the chance after finding himself in acres of space, but his low shot came back off the inside of the far post. Madrid survived another scare when, soon after the restart, Pierre Webo's close-range volley forced a block out of Iker Casillas.
Madrid finally gave Aouate something serious to think about in the 58th minute when he was forced to tip over a rising cross-shot from Cristiano Ronaldo. And the hosts did not have to wait much longer to take the lead as just two minutes later Benzema found the back of the net.
The Frenchman did well to create space for himself on the edge of the box before firing a low left-footed shot past Aouate.
Although he struck two hat-tricks in December in the Champions League and Copa del Rey, that was Benzema's first league goal since September and Madrid, who are looking to bring in a striker to cover the loss of the injured Gonzalo Higuain, will be hoping it will be the catalyst for better times ahead for the 23-year-old.
