Karim Benzema’s stay and an Alvaro Odriozola header gave Real Madrid a 3-0 victory over Cadiz on Wednesday night, temporarily moving Los Blancos ahead of Atletico at the top of La Liga.
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It took a while for Zinedine Zidane’s men to find their rhythm but they finally hit the deadlock in half an hour. A VAR check revealed that Isaac Carcelen had taken down Vinicius Junior in the box, forcing the referee to point to the spot. Benzema stepped up and converted clinically via Jeremiah Ledesma’s fingertips. Los Blancos doubled their lead just three minutes later when Benzema cut a lovely cross to the back post, where Odriozola was waiting to nod home.
Odriozola doubles the lead in Madrid! ?
After losing points this weekend, Zidane’s side is heading for a victory in this must-win match against Cadiz ⚪ pic.twitter.com/KtmT0o34kT
– Premier Sports? (@PremierSportsTV) April 21, 2021
Real were able to make it 3-0 five minutes before half-time when Benzema (you could have guessed by now) was left free to go into the bottom corner from Casemiro’s chip into the six-yard box and threw his 21st La Liga strike of the campaign .
With the chances in the second half, Zidane’s side could comfortably look out of the game to secure a dominant 3-0 victory over Cadiz. The win causes Real to skip city rivals Atletico to claim the top spot before Diego Simeone’s side play Huesca on Thursday night. Now let’s see how Los Blancos rated it.
Nacho Fernandez was outstanding at the back for Real Madrid | Quality Sport Images / Getty Images
Thibaut Courtois (GK) – 6/10 – Once again was authoritative when the ball came close to him but was rarely tested and made only three easy stops.
Eder Militao (CB) – 6/10 – Made a lot of deviant passes when he looked to change games from deep, but committed well enough with his defensive tasks and rarely put a foot wrong.
Raphael Varane (CB) – 7/10 – Never looked forward to the strong Cadiz front line and won three aerial duels against Alvaro Negredo. Also covered for his colleagues well, make four distances.Nacho Fernandez (CB) – 8/10 – A real warrior. Strong, determined and uncompromising with his challenges and made seven interventions. Was decisive in his side’s second goal when he won the ball back in the last third.
Antonio Blanco enjoyed a brilliant full debut alongside Casemiro at Real Madrid midfield Quality Sport Images / Getty Images
Alvaro Odriozola (RWB) – 7/10 – Be too hesitant about the ball and constantly chose to pass backwards rather than receive her husband. However, he nodded well and made it 2-0 in the first half.
Casemiro (CM) – 8/10 – Be a brilliant pivot for his side. Strong and effective when you break up the game while staying neat and tidy on the ball to make easy and progressive passes, especially to help Benzema’s other goals.
Antonio Blanco (CM) – 8/10 – Calm and collected on the ball, often choosing the right pass to develop the game and maintaining a 93% accuracy. Sometimes sat deep to allow Casemiro a temporary climb forward to challenge in the Cadiz box. An intelligent, solid and effective show on his full debut.
Marcelo (LWB) – 7/10 – Showed great skill when he turned up to the left and delivered some quality in the box and made a key pass. Also did not forget defensive tasks, made five tackles all the time.
? 21 GOALS? 7 assists
? @Benzema = LETHAL? #CadizRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/5Qk7LSxjhS
– LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) April 21, 2021
Rodrygo (RW) – 6/10 – Was dangerous in advanced areas, picked up the ball to drive the opposition but was not completely clinical enough with his end product.
Karim Benzema (ST) – 9/10 – Where would Real Madrid be without this man? Two successful goals and a brilliant assist stole the show in Cadiz – decisive is not even the word.
Vinicius Junior (LW) – 6/10 – Really energetic and hard working, but only sometimes threatened. However, had an impact on winning the penalty that led to the opener.
? 60 ‘| 0-3 | Exchanges: @ DaniCarvajal92 ↔️ @ raphaelvarane @ marcoasensio10 ↔️ @vinijr #HankookTire pic.twitter.com/jaBjzHAIoS
– Real Madrid CF ???? (@realmadriden) April 21, 2021
Dani Carvajal (RB) – 7/10 – Good to see the Spaniard a few minutes under his belt and looked solid against his opposite numbers while he hacked a key pass.Marco Asensio (LW) – 6/10 – Added new creative drive forward and made a key pass but could not really penetrate the Cadiz back line.
Isco (CM) – 5/10 – Perhaps he was a little preoccupied with the fact that it was his birthday, because he really did not affect the possession he had for his half-hour period on the pitch.
Mariano Diaz (ST) – 5/10
Miguel Gutierrez (LB) – 6/10
