MADRID, Dec 5 Real Madrid ended a turbulent week off the pitch on a high when Karim Benzema struck twice in a 4-1 victory over Getafe in La Liga on Saturday before leaders Barcelona were held to a 1-1 draw at Valencia.
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It also helped lift the gloom that had descended over the Bernabeu in the wake of last month’s 4-0 home defeat by Barcelona and this week’s expulsion from the Copa del Rey, which was imposed after they fielded an ineligible player.
Instead it was Getafe who rounded off the scoring when Alexis powered home Pedro Leon’s corner to reduce the arrears.
“The fact Benzema scored those two goals and contributed so much to the team going forward reinforces even more what I have said before that he is a very important player for us and makes those around him play better”.
“We spoke this week and he was desperate to play and score goals”.
“I’ve not been having such a good season”, Bale said. He met his target. “We found out at halftime and took him off then as we wanted to do the right thing”, Real coach Rafa Benitez told a news conference.
Benzema scored his first two goals since becoming embroiled in a sex-tape blackmail scandal in his native France in a case involving worldwide teammate Mathieu Valbuena.
Benzema spent a night in police custody in November because of the case, which has attracted unwanted attention for the striker with headlines both on and off the sports pages. Getafe sit in 13th place and have just a four-point cushion on the relegation zone, and while they won their last league match, that was their first such win since mid-October.
“The team is doing a lot better than people think, we showed that in first half”.
Many Real Madrid fans applauded after the final whistle, but before the match loud boos greeted coach Benitez and Russian player Denis Cheryshev, who played in the team’s 3-1 win over Cadiz in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday despite being suspended.
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They have said they will appeal the decision, although the Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) was sharply critical of the club in its ruling published on Friday.
