Karim Benzema's Record Of Helping Real Madrid Continues To Stop Barcelona

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema. (Photo: Twitter @realmadrid)

JAKARTA - Real Madrid continues to follow Barcelona in the race for the Spanish La Liga title. Now Los Blancos are eight points adrift of Barcelona who control the standings.

Real Madrid closed the gap with Barcelona after destroying Elche's guests with a score of 4-0 in the 21st match at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Thursday, February 16, WIB.

This victory makes Madrid now occupy second place with a collection of 48 points, eight points adrift with Barcelona.

Marco Asensio scored the opener in the eighth minute. He received a pass from Dani Carvajal, then moved to stab and make a solo run into the Elche penalty box, and fired a left-footed shot towards the right corner of the goal.

The hosts were awarded a penalty in the 31st minute after Enzo Roco's effort to block Dani Carvajal's cross sent the ball into his hands. Karim Benzema, who became the executor, carried out his duties perfectly.

Benzema scored his second goal in the 45+1 minute. The goal again came from the white point. Diego Gonzalez's foul on Rordygo in the forbidden box resulted in a penalty kick which Benzema successfully executed.

This was Benzema's 229th goal for Madrid in the Spanish La Liga. The French player surpassed the achievements of Raul Gonzalez Blanco who scored 228 goals for Los Blancos in La Liga.

The status of Madrid's top scorer in La Liga is still held by Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored 311 goals.

3 - Top 3 scorers of @realmadriden in the history of LaLiga:

🥇Cristiano Ronaldo 🇵🇹 - 311 goals

🥈KARIM BENZEMA 🇫🇷 - 229 goals🆕

🥉Raúl González Blanco 🇪🇸 - 228 goals

Legend. pic.twitter.com/pTD0uipKMF

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) February 15, 2023

As if it wasn't enough to pocket a three-goal advantage, Madrid continued to play an attacking game from the start of the second half.

Elche goalkeeper, Edgar Badia, had to pick up the ball for the fourth time in the 80th minute. Luka Modric, who appeared as a substitute, completed a pass from Eduardo Camavinga in the penalty box. Final score 4-0 to Real Madrid.

Line Up:

Real Madrid: Andriy Lunin, Dani Carvajal (Alvaro Odriozola 68'), Nacho, Eder Militao, David Alaba, Federico Valverde (Aurelien Tchouameni 68'), Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Ceballos (Luka Modric 68'), Marco Asensio (Sergio Arribas 81 '), Karim Benzema (Mariano Diaz 78'), Rodrygo

Elche: Edgar Badia, Diego Gonzalez (Pol Lirola 73'), Enzo Roco (Gonzalo Verdu 57'), Lisandro Magallan, Jonathan Carmona, Raul Guti (Pape Cheikh 58'), Gerard Gumbao, Carlos Clerc, Randy Nteka (Lucas Boye 67 '), Fidel Chaves (Tete Morente 58'), Ezequiel Ponce