Real Madrid comfortably beat Elche 3-0

Goals from Federico Valverde, Karim Benzema, and Marco Asensio gave Real Madrid a comfortable 3-0 win over La Liga bottom line Elche on Wednesday, with the leaders still three goals ruled offside by VAR.

 

Madrid is at the top of the table with 28 points, six ahead of second-placed Barcelona, who host Villarreal in their next match.

 

After a 3-1 win over arch-rivals Barcelona in the Clasico on Sunday, manager Carlo Ancelotti has decided not to let Key players play against a winless Elche.

 

The champions dominated the game from the start, with several chances aside from three efforts ruled out, the first in the sixth minute when Benzema, who won the Ballon d’Or on Monday, was offside against Vinicius Jr. excluded.

 

>> Best betting sites (2024)

 

An in-form Valverde put Madrid ahead with a Real technical strike from the edge of the box in the 11th minute, with Benzema’s effort rebounding from the defense.

 

Valverde has made 15 appearances for Real Madrid this season, scoring six goals, as many as in his first 148 appearances for the club.

 

It was his third long-range goal of the season, and no player in Europe’s top five has scored more from outside the box than the Uruguayan.

 

“I’m happy for the team and the win. I’m enjoying how we play now,” Valverde told the source.

 

“Ancelotti told me he will retire if I don’t score at least ten goals this season.

 

“So that’s my focus. I don’t want to blame for the coach’s retirement,” Valverde joked with a smile.

 

“I risked 10 [goals]; Let’s hope he can score four more!” joked Ancelotti. “He’s doing well; he surprised me. He’s doing everything offensively and defensively, his movement, a modern player.”

 

In the 25th minute, Alaba put the ball into the net after beautiful cooperation with Benzema. Benzema found him through a wall pass, but the goal was ruled offside.

 

The third goal Real ruled out came in the 60th minute when Benzema hit from Carvajal’s cross, but the full-back was inches from the defensive line.

 

Elche had a great chance to equalize in the 70th minute, but goalkeeper Andriy Lunin made a stunning reflex save, and Carlos Clerc headed home from close range.

 

In the 75th minute, Benzema combined with Rodrigo to extend Real Madrid’s lead, and Rodrigo assisted the France international with a clever back-heel pass.

 

Substitute Asensio added a third goal a minute later, with Rodrigo’s cross from close range.

 

“I’m worried about this game, it’s important because, after the derby, you might think the level will drop, and I want to rotate, but I don’t want to make excuses for them,” added Ancelotti.

 

“The team played well, focused, attacked very well, and had good mobility. But the game didn’t start until the 70th minute and could have leveled.”

 

 

Real Madrid comfortably beat Elche 3-0

Goals from Federico Valverde, Karim Benzema, and Marco Asensio gave Real Madrid a comfortable 3-0 win over La Liga bottom line Elche on Wednesday, with the leaders still three goals ruled offside by VAR.

 

Madrid is at the top of the table with 28 points, six ahead of second-placed Barcelona, who host Villarreal in their next match.

 

After a 3-1 win over arch-rivals Barcelona in the Clasico on Sunday, manager Carlo Ancelotti has decided not to let Key players play against a winless Elche.

 

The champions dominated the game from the start, with several chances aside from three efforts ruled out, the first in the sixth minute when Benzema, who won the Ballon d’Or on Monday, was offside against Vinicius Jr. excluded.

 

 

An in-form Valverde put Madrid ahead with a Real technical strike from the edge of the box in the 11th minute, with Benzema’s effort rebounding from the defense.

 

Valverde has made 15 appearances for Real Madrid this season, scoring six goals, as many as in his first 148 appearances for the club.

 

It was his third long-range goal of the season, and no player in Europe’s top five has scored more from outside the box than the Uruguayan.

 

“I’m happy for the team and the win. I’m enjoying how we play now,” Valverde told the source.

 

“Ancelotti told me he will retire if I don’t score at least ten goals this season.

 

“So that’s my focus. I don’t want to blame for the coach’s retirement,” Valverde joked with a smile.

 

“I risked 10 [goals]; Let’s hope he can score four more!” joked Ancelotti. “He’s doing well; he surprised me. He’s doing everything offensively and defensively, his movement, a modern player.”

 

In the 25th minute, Alaba put the ball into the net after beautiful cooperation with Benzema. Benzema found him through a wall pass, but the goal was ruled offside.

 

The third goal Real ruled out came in the 60th minute when Benzema hit from Carvajal’s cross, but the full-back was inches from the defensive line.

 

Elche had a great chance to equalize in the 70th minute, but goalkeeper Andriy Lunin made a stunning reflex save, and Carlos Clerc headed home from close range.

 

In the 75th minute, Benzema combined with Rodrigo to extend Real Madrid’s lead, and Rodrigo assisted the France international with a clever back-heel pass.

 

Substitute Asensio added a third goal a minute later, with Rodrigo’s cross from close range.

 

“I’m worried about this game, it’s important because, after the derby, you might think the level will drop, and I want to rotate, but I don’t want to make excuses for them,” added Ancelotti.

 

“The team played well, focused, attacked very well, and had good mobility. But the game didn’t start until the 70th minute and could have leveled.”