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First-half goals from Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos helped Real Madrid beat Valencia 2-0 to move second in the 2020-21 La Liga.
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane was back with a four-man defence for this game. Dani Carvajal returned to the starting lineup from injury, while Toni Kroos also returned from his one-game suspension.
The hosts started the game on the front foot and went ahead in the 12th minute. Karim Benzema picked up a pass by Kroos before curling a shot into the bottom-left corner to put Real Madrid in the lead.
However, Zidane was forced into the first change of the game when Dani Carvajal limped off the field in the 28th minute and was replaced by Lucas Vazquez.
Nevertheless, Real Madrid doubled their lead three minutes before half-time. A well-worked team move saw Vasquez find Toni Kroos in acres of space in the box, and the Germany international made no mistake from 14 yards.
The second half was played at a slower tempo, but Valencia offered nothing in terms of attacking threat. The home side thought they had tripled their lead when Ferland Mendy placed a right-footed finish past Jaume Domenech.
Replays, however, showed that Vinicius Junior was slightly offside in the buildup to the goal.
However, the setback had no impact on the final result, as Los Blancos picked up three crucial points to move up to second in the league standings.
On that note, here are five talking points from the game.
#5 Pathetic Valencia fail to turn up in the capital
The last time the two sides met, Valencia put out a comprehensive performance to thrash the defending champions 4-1. They had also picked up a point at the Camp Nou a month later.
Los Che came into this game, knowing that a win could steer them clear of the relegation zone. However, that was not to be, as they failed to trouble Madrid.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was virtually a spectator throughout the game, and was not called into action till the 54th minute. That was Valencia's first shot in the game, and it ended up being their only effort on target.
It was not only in attack that the visitors were poor. Their defence was practically non-existent, as Real Madrid were afforded too much time and space.
In many ways, it was almost as if the visitors came into this game lacking the self-belief that they could get the job done against the faltering reigning champions.
#4 Real Madrid usurp Barcelona to go second
Barcelona's emphatic 5-1 victory over Alaves on Saturday meant that the Blaugrana temporarily climbed above their arch-rivals into second place.
Real Madrid, however, got the job done against Valencia to ensure they reclaimed second spot in the league table. Despite the victory, Real Madrid are five points off leaders Atletico Madrid, who have two games in hand.
#3 Injury woes continue to pile up for Real Madrid
Real Madrid have been rocked by several injury problems this season, with no fewer than seven first-team players currently sidelined due to fitness issues.
Youngster Marvin Park is also in the treatment room, leaving Zinedine Zidane with a shortage of options to pick from.
The 48-year-old named a highly youthful bench comprising of five academy players for the visit of Valencia. Dani Carvajal started the game, but the Spain international lasted only 28 minutes before being replaced by Lucas Vazquez - himself just returning to full fitness.
The frequency of injuries to playes has become a cause for concern for Real Madrid, who will hope to end the season with some silverware.
#2 Evergreen Toni Kroos dictates proceedings
Toni Kroos missed the game against Getafe last week after been suspended for accumulating yellow cards.
However, after retunring to the starting lineup against Valencia, the Germany international controlled the tempo of the game from midfield. His job was made all the more easier by the lack of application from the visitors. But that takes nothing away from what was a Man-of-the-Match performance.
Kroos was practically unplayable throughout the game, and his midfield combination with Luka Modric proved too much for Carlos Soler and Uras Racic.
His vision was on full display when he picked out Karim Benzema for the opener, while his shooting precision came to the fore in Real Madrid's second goal. In addition to his goal and assist, the former Bayern Munich man also made four key passes and had a passing accuracy of 94.4%.
It came as no surprise when the 31-year-old was awarded the Budweiser King of the Match award.
#1 Karim Benzema continues to lead the Real Madrid line with aplomb
Karim Benzema has inarguably been Real Madrid's best player in the last three years, and the Frenchman has kept up his fine performances this season too.
The precision required in his opening goal was evidence of his supreme confidence. Benzema proved to be a thorn in the flesh of Valencia's defence during his 79 minutes on the field.
The 33-year-old had three shots on target, more than anyone else managed in the game. He had shown signs of discomfort in the early stages of the match, but led his line with aplomb against a limited Valencia side.
The goal was his 12th in the league this season, as he continues to carry the goal-scoring burden for Real Madrid.
