Benzema takes True Madrid into Champions Group last 16
Karim Benzema netted several identical headers to secure Real Madrid a location in the Champions Group last 16 with a good 2-0 make an impression on Borussia Moenchengladbach on Wednesday, easing the pressure on mentor Zinedine Zidane.
Record 13-period champions Madrid started the night time in third place, at risk of failing woefully to qualify from the group level for the very first time in their background and dropping in to the Europa League, but delivered an assured effectiveness at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium.
Madrid completed as group winners on 10 points, ahead of runners-up Gladbach on 8 regardless of the defeat, as Shakhtar Donetsk and Inter Milan drew 0-0 on the various other Group B clash.
President Florentino Perez was first spotted in the tunnel before the video game and his presence seemed to concentration Madrid minds, as they put on their finest performance of the growing season in their most significant game so far.
"It was a good game for all of us," Benzema told Movistar. "Each match is your final and I think that if we generally play how we do today, no workforce can hurt us.
"This was an extremely difficult game, we started it well and with the desire to show that we will be the best."
Makeshift right-rear Lucas Vazquez curled in a good cross and Benzema produced a fine header to break the deadlock after only nine minutes.
Madrid retained an iron grasp on the overall game until Gladbach forward Alassane Plea broke free but dinked wide of Thibaut Courtois' target.
Benzema doubled the business lead with a good clone of his initial strike, nodding house from Rodrygo's cross from the right found in the 32nd minute.
- Nervous await Gladbach -
Madrid came near adding a good third from the same avenue, with Vazquez crossing for the evergreen Luka Modric, but Yann Sommer tipped his work onto the post.
The Croatian midfielder, 35, lashed residence shortly afterwards however the strike was eliminated for an offside call against Raphael Varane in the build-up.
Madrid continued to dominate after the break, looking back again to their best ahead of the weekend derby clash on La Liga with Atletico Madrid.
Sommer made a brilliant preserve to claw out a good header from Madrid captain Sergio Ramos on his come back from injury, with Benzema crashing the rebound against the crossbar.
Vazquez drilled an attempt against the near post as Zidane's rampant part coasted to triumph, allowing the coach some breathing bedroom after a troubled begin to the season.
Two defeats by Shakhtar Donetsk had remaining Madrid in a tight spot found in the Champions Group and their circumstances was compounded by disappointing losses against Cadiz, Valencia and Alaves in La Liga.
"The objective was to complete first and we achieved it," a proud Zidane told Movistar. "We enjoyed a magnificent game today. I think it was our most satisfactory of the growing season, from minute someone to the end we did very well."
Gladbach created little of be aware and found it out of the question to escape Madrid's relentless press, showing few similarities aside which practically shocked the Spanish champions found in the 2-2 draw they shared in October.
"It's really amazing, we played our worst game of the complete group stage today, but we are still through, and deservedly as a result," Gladbach captain Lars Stindl told DAZN.
The viewing players gathered around an electronic tablet towards the end of the game to watch the ultimate moments of Inter's pull with Shakhtar, before they could celebrate achieving the Champions League previous 16 for the first time.
"It had been a strange sense because we couldn't really be happy after our video game. We simply had to expectation, and the emotion flooded out towards the end," Gladbach midfielder Christoph Kramer added on Sky. "We deserved to undergo, even if we'd no chance against Serious Madrid."
