Hero Benzema shines on

Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema celebrates scoring v Sevilla on Sunday. Pic/AFP

Karim Benzema completed another incredible Real Madrid comeback on Sunday as they fought from two goals down to defeat Sevilla 3-2 in La Liga. After trailing Chelsea 0-3 on Tuesday only to secure their place in the Champions League semi-finals, Madrid stunned Sevilla to seal the victory that has surely won them La Liga.

Defeat would have given fresh hope to the chasing pack, with Sevilla and Barcelona both beginning the day 12 points behind, Barca with two games in hand. Instead, goals in the second half from Rodrygo, Nacho Fernandez and Benzema in the 92nd minute mean Madrid extend their advantage to 15 points with six games left to play.

Tough first half for Real

An Ivan Rakitic free-kick and Erik Lamela's smart finish had put Sevilla two up at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. "It's difficult to understand why we played like that in the first half and to be honest how we played as well as that in the second," said Carlo Ancelotti. "In the first half we looked tired. In the second, the intensity was spectacular."

Benzema's goal finished Chelsea off on Tuesday after Rodrygo had forced extra-time at the Santiago Bernabeu and those two, along with Vinicius Junior, were crucial again. Benzema now has 44 goals in 46 appearances this season and 15 in his last 10.

Rakitic puts Sevilla ahead

Rakitic gave Sevilla the lead in the 25th minute, curling a free-kick into the corner after Luka Modric had brought down Papu Gomez.
Lamela doubled the advantage four minutes later, slotting after Tecatito drew out Thibaut Courtois and left the net open. But a superb Vinicius backheel for Dani Carvajal allowed Rodrygo to pull a goal back in the 50th minute.

Vinicius thought he had made it 2-2 in the 74th minute, only for the goal to be ruled out, the referee deciding the Brazilian had controlled with his arm and not his chest. Madrid though were undeterred as Rakitic headed away a corner, only for Carvajal to drive to the line and pull back for Nacho to finish.

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