Home ›› 21 Feb 2022 ›› Sport
Real Madrid beat Alaves 3-0 in La Liga as Marco Asensio’s stunning goal helped send Carlo Ancelotti’s side seven points clear at the top of the table.
But the result flattered Madrid, who struggled to break down Alaves until Asensio unleashed from distance at the Santiago Bernabeu, where the disgruntled fans had whistled with the score goalless at half-time.
“We agreed with the fans,” said Carlo Ancelotti. “Nobody in the dressing room was happy with how we played in the first half.”
Asensio’s goal opened the floodgates as Vinicius Junior finished off Karim Benzema’s cut-back before Benzema converted a late penalty after Rodrygo was brought down in the area.Madrid remain the clear favourites to regain the Spanish title, despite their dip in form.
The were still moments of sloppiness and Asensio was jeered when his backpass was read by Pere Pons, who rounded Thibaut Courtois but failed to steer in from the angle.
The reaction seemingly stayed with Asensio because he celebrated his goal by making a gesture to suggest he wanted more support. It was a brilliant strike, the Spaniard collecting off Benzema on the right, cutting in onto his left foot and arcing a dipping effort into the far corner. Benzema almost made it two from a Vinicius cut-back, his finish on the turn dribbling up against the post. Moments later the same combination came in reverse, Benzema supplying Vinicius, who this time slotted in.
Rodrygo, on as a substitute, was then tripped by Lejeune, allowing Benzema to make it three from the spot in injury-time.
