In the early morning of January 9, Beijing time, in the 20th round of La Liga, Real Madrid defeated Valencia 4-1 at home, and won 5 of the last 6 games at home in the league, 8 points ahead of Sevilla, who played 2 games in the lesser round. Benzema broke the deadlock and scored twice, with Real Madrid scoring more than 300 goals in his career, Venicius also scoring two goals, Guedes pulling a penalty back and Modric firing over the crossbar.
Game highlights
Benzema scored the first goal of the year for Real Madrid for the sixth time, 17 goals in 20 games in La Liga this season, 301 goals in 584 games of Real Madrid's career regular matches, 300 goals + 4th person in the history of the team, second only to Ronaldo, Raul and Di Stefano, and scored all 15 main penalties during his time with Real Madrid.
Venicius scored 14 goals in his first 68 shots in all competitions this season, 14 goals on target and 12 in league, compared to just eight goals in La Liga in the previous three years. Vinicius and Benzema have combined 36 goals and 17 assists this season, and 29 in the league.
Wonderful review
At home to Valencia in the league, Real Madrid won 86-63, drew 14 and lost 9, with a goal difference of 199 to 81. Venicius returned, Asensio started again and Hazard played as a substitute.
In the 6th minute, Kroos' free-kick from the right was hoisted into the box and Militang's header was blocked by the goalkeeper.
On 12 minutes, Guedes crossed and Gilliamon's header was confiscated by Courtois. Four minutes later, Gaya split the ball, Guedes turned around and fired a low shot from outside the penalty area, and Courtois pressed the ball.
On 19 minutes, Mendy's cross from the left was met by Venicius who flicked his head and flicked it off.
In the 30th minute, Modric picked up a cross from the right wing and Asensio swept a shot from the right side of the penalty area, and goalkeeper Cillaisen sealed the near corner.
On 35 minutes, Benzema curled past Moussa in front of the arc and his shot was slightly offside.
In the 40th minute, Vinicius crossed and Modric's fake shot from the centre of the penalty area got rid of the two and his left-footed shot hit the crossbar.
In the 42nd minute, Casemiro burst into the box and was knocked down by Diacab, the referee took a penalty, and Benzema took the penalty into the top left corner of the goal, 1-0.
In the 52nd minute, Vinicius cut inside on the left wing and knocked across, Benzema returned the pass in time, and The Vinicius man pushed the ball from close range to make it 2-0.
In the 60th minute, Moussa lost the ball in midfield, Benzema crossed obliquely, Asensio burst into the box and fired a shot from the right rib, Cilessen struggled to save the ball, and Vinicius headed into the empty goal in front of the goal, 3-0.
On 62 minutes, Gas volleyed from the top of the arc and Courtois flew to save.
On 74 minutes, Benzema picked out a pass and Asensio's right-sided shot from the edge of the box was blocked.
In the 75th minute, Mendy pulled down Marcos Andre in the penalty area, the referee took a penalty and showed a yellow card, Guedes took the penalty and pushed the bottom right corner to be blocked by Courtois, Andes head shot into the empty goal, 1-3.
In the 88th minute, Mendy's cross from the left flank was met by Benzema,4-1 from the penalty spot.
Score
Benzema was the best and Venicius scored high.
Statistics
Appearances line-up
Real Madrid (4-3-3): Courtois; Lucas Vazquez (87' Nacho), Militão, Araba, Mendy; Modric (70' Ceballos), Casemiro (70' Camarenga), Kroos; Asensio, Benzema (89' Isco), Venetius (87' Valverde)
Valencia (4-4-2): Cillessen; Piccini (77' Rubin), Diacabi, Adret, Gaya; Eld Costa (66' Coidredi, 83' Manu Vallejo), Gilliamon, Vas, Guedes; Maxi Gomez (66' Marcos Andrei), Moussa (66' Cheryshev)