Image Source : AP Real Madrid’s Eden Hazard scores his aspect’s third purpose throughout the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Alaves and Real Madrid at Mendizorroza stadium in Vitoria.
Eden Hazard scored and arrange Karim Benzema for his first of two targets as Real Madrid eased to a 4-1 victory at Alavés within the Spanish league on Saturday, ending a winless run in a match that coach Zinedine Zidane missed after he contracted the coronavirus.
Hazard grazed an extended cross to redirect the ball to Benzema, who doubled the lead for Madrid within the forty first after Casemiro had headed within the Fifteenth-minute opener.
Belgium ahead Hazard scored simply his third purpose of the season in first-half damage time to construct a 3-0 lead on the break. Toni Kroos had recovered possession in midfield and arrange Hazard’s run behind a disordered defensive position.
Joselu Mato pulled one again for Alavés on the hour-mark.
Benzema made it a brace within the seventieth after Luka Modric performed him clear on the break. The French striker reduce contained in the final defender earlier than firing in his tenth purpose within the league this marketing campaign.
Second-place Madrid diminished the hole to chief Atlético Madrid to 4 factors. Atlético has two video games in hand, beginning with its house match in opposition to Valencia on Sunday.
The promising efficiency by Hazard comes amid rising impatience proven by Madrid’s followers, and a few unfavorable comparisons within the Spanish sports activities media to former star Gareth Bale, who was additionally damage inclined. Hampered by accidents, the 30-year-old Hazard has not lived as much as the club-record 100 million euros ($113 million) charge plus add-ons two seasons in the past.
“I think at Chelsea he was the player he was, and now he has to be a different one here,” Benzema mentioned about Hazard. “We need Hazard to be at his best.”
Madrid assistant coach David Bettoni was on the touchline at Mendizorroza Stadium after Madrid made public on Friday that Zidane had examined constructive for COVID-19. Bettoni mentioned on Friday that Zidane was “feeling fine.”
Bettoni mentioned he consulted Zidane by phone late within the match to make substitutions, however added his boss “trusts his players and trusts me.”
Bettoni has excessive expectations of Hazard.
“I think that little by little Eden will recover his top form,” Bettoni mentioned. “He is a creative player, a spontaneous player, who needs confidence to take on players one-on-one, but it is also true that he has had many injuries. We have to be patient, even though patience is not plentiful in football.”
The win over struggling Alavés got here after Madrid drew 0-0 at Osasuna within the league, misplaced to Athletic Bilbao within the Copa del Rey semifinals, and was dumped from the Copa del Rey in a 2-1 loss at third-tier Alcoyano, which scored the winner with 10 males.
Alavés, which was celebrating the one centesimal anniversary of its basis, was left one level above the relegation zone in a 3rd consecutive loss below new coach Abelardo Fernández.
(With inputs from AP).
