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Attendance: 59,255
Real Madrid logo
La Liga | Gameweek 3
Sep 1, 2018 at 7.45pm UK
 
Leganes logo

4-1

Bale (17'), Benzema (50', 61'), Ramos (66' pen.)
FT(HT: 1-1)
Carrillo (24' pen.)

Karim Benzema nets brace in Real Madrid win

Benzema nets brace in Real Madrid win
© Reuters
Karim Benzema scores twice as Real Madrid make it three wins from three at the start of the 2018-19 La Liga campaign with a 4-1 home success over Leganes.

Karim Benzema scored twice as Real Madrid made it three wins from three at the start of the 2018-19 La Liga campaign with a 4-1 home success over Leganes on Saturday night.

Benzema's brace was supplemented by efforts from Gareth Bale and Sergio Ramos as the European champions continued their strong start to the new season.

Marco Asensio had the first real chance of the match in the sixth minute after breaking into the Leganes box, but the Spaniard could only lift the ball over the crossbar.

The home side did take the lead in the 17th minute, however, when Bale's effort from a Dani Carvajal effort found a route into the back of the net despite the best efforts of Ivan Cuellar, who initially looked to have kept it out.

Leganes - under the management of former Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino - were level in the 24th minute though, with on-loan Saints forward Guido Carrillo converting from the penalty spot after Casemiro had brought Javier Eraso to the ground with a rash challenge.

The equaliser gave Leganes confidence, and Michael Santos brought a smart save from Thibaut Courtois in the period that followed, before Cuellar kept out a Bale header down the other end of the field.

Toni Kroos headed a Bale cross wide of the Leganes post late in the half as Real Madrid continued to boss the possession, while Benzema also tested Cuellar before the half-time whistle went at 1-1.

Benzema sent Madrid back ahead in the early stages of the second half, however, when he headed an Asensio cross into the bottom corner of the net.

The Frenchman's effort was initially chalked off for a foul on Leganes left-back Jonathan Silva, but following a VAR check, Los Blancos were ahead.

Benzema then scored his second of the match in the 62nd minute, with the Frenchman finding the bottom corner with a wonderful finish at the conclusion of what was a fine passing move.

Real Madrid's fourth arrived in the 66th minute when captain Sergio Ramos converted from the penalty spot after Unai Bustinza had brought Asensio to the deck with a rash challenge.

Isco almost had a low cross turned into the back of the Leganes net by Bustinza in the 73rd minute as Los Blancos continued to search for more goals on home soil.

Bale then fired over the crossbar following excellent work from Asensio, and the scoreline was certainly not flattering Julen Lopetegui's side due to their dominance on the night.

Isco should have made it five late on, but the Spaniard fired into the arms of Cuellar from close range as it finished 4-1 to the European champions at the Bernabeu.

REAL MADRID (4-3-3): Courtois; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Casemiro, Kroos, Modric (Isco 62'); Bale (Lucas 85'), Benzema, Asensio (Ceballos 78')

LEGANES (4-3-3): Cuellar; Juanfran, Bustinza, Siovas, Silva; Gumbau, R.Perez, Eraso (Vesga 70'); El Zhar (En Nesyri 70'), Carrillo, Santos (Rolan 81')

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Atletico MadridAtletico19135134122244
2Real Madrid19134243192443
3Barcelona19122551222938
4Athletic Bilbao19106329171236
5Villarreal198653431330
6Mallorca199371921-230
7Real Sociedad198471713428
8GironaGirona198472725228
9Rayo Vallecano196762222025
10Real BetisBetis196762123-225
11Osasuna196762328-525
12Celta Vigo197392830-224
13Sevilla196582128-723
14Las PalmasLas Palmas196492429-522
15Getafe194781316-319
16Leganes194781829-1119
17AlavesAlaves1945102131-1017
18Espanyol1944111731-1416
19Real ValladolidValladolid1943121337-2415
20Valencia1927101829-1113


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