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Karim Benzema scored twice and Eden Hazard picked up a rare goal as Real Madrid beat Alaves 4-1 in handy fashion in La Liga on Saturday.
Real Madrid, who were without manager Zinedine Zidane due to COVID, took the lead early in the first half when Casemiro headed home in the 15th minute from a corner kick.
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Benzema and Hazard, who scored for just the second time all season, added a pair of well-taken goals shortly before half-time as Madrid took a 3-0 lead into the break.
Alaves pulled one back shortly before the hour mark when Joselu beat Thibaut Courtois from a Lucas Perez cross following a set piece to trim Real’s lead to two goals.
Benzema put any hopes of a comeback for the hosts away soon after the Joselu goal, cutting in from the left on a counter-attack and burying a right-footed shot that Alaves’ Fernando Pacheco had no chance to save.
The result puts Real Madrid on 40 points in La Liga after 19 games, four behind leaders Atleti, who have two games in hand over their chasing city rivals.
“This was a great performance from us and will lift our confidence,” said Benzema after his side earned only their second victory from their last six games in all competitions including a shock loss in the Copa del Rey in midweek.
“We know every game is difficult, we always try to put in our best performance but sometimes it’s hard when teams defend deep. But today the goals kept flowing and that’s good for everyone, especially after the week we’ve had.”