Karim Benzema has scored 243 goals in all competitions for Real MadridKarim Benzema became Real Madrid’s fifth all-time leading goalscorer with a double in a victory over Valencia, which closed the gap on league leaders Barcelona to two points.
Benzema, 32, has now netted 243 goals in all competitions for Real, overtaking Ferenc Puskas’ tally.
Ex-Chelsea forward Eden Hazard set up his first goal on the hour before Benzema scored a stunning late volley.
Substitute Marco Asensio scored Real’s second with his first touch.
Relive Real Madrid’s victory over ValenciaIs Benzema most underrated striker in Europe?Benzema’s second goal, which came deep into the second half, was a superb piece of skill, involving a flick and volley which caused manager Zinedine Zidane to put his head in his hands in disbelief.
The Frenchman’s goal, assisted by substitute Asensio, capped off a brilliant second-half performance from Real.
Spaniard Asensio, who suffered a knee injury last summer and has missed almost the entirety of this season, came on in the 73rd minute and guided a volley from Ferland Mendy’s cross into the net 30 seconds later to make it 2-0.
1) Cristiano Ronaldo – 4504) Santillana – 2902) Raul – 3235) Karim Benzema – 2433) Alfredo Di Stefano – 3086) Ferenc Puskas – 242But Benzema’s volley was a contender for goal of the season and confirmed his place among some of the greatest strikers in Real’s history.
There was plenty of positives for Hazard too – his partnership with Benzema is blossoming and his assist for the Frenchman’s first set Real on their way.
Hazard, who joined from Chelsea for £150m in June 2019, had several shots on target in the first half but could not get the better of Valencia keeper Jasper Cillessen, who was in good form all evening.
And it was Valencia who thought they had struck first at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium – Real’s training ground – when Rodrigo had a goal ruled out for offside by VAR.
That decision, which saw referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez go over to the VAR screen at the side of the pitch, came moments after Rodrigo struck the outside of the right post.
But Real dominated after the break and it went from bad to worse for Valencia when substitute Lee Kang-In was shown a straight red card for several kicks at Sergio Ramos.
The result means Real Madrid sit two points behind Barcelona in second place ahead of their next game on Sunday away to Real Sociedad, while Barcelona travel to Sevilla on Friday.
Line-upsReal MadridFormation 4-3-3
13Courtois
2Carvajal5Varane4Ramos23Mendy
10Modric14Casemiro8Kroos
15Valverde9Benzema7E Hazard
13Courtois2Carvajal5Varane4Ramos23Mendy10Modric14Casemiro8Kroos15ValverdeSubstituted forAsensioat 74’minutes9Benzema7E HazardSubstituted forVinícius Júniorat 82’minutesSubstitutes1Areola3Militão11Bale12Marcelo16Rodríguez20Asensio21Díaz25Vinícius Júnior26Altube27Rodrygo39HernándezValenciaFormation 4-4-2
13Cillessen
18Wass33Guillamón4Mangala14Gayà
20Torres10Parejo6Kondogbia8Soler
19Rodrigo22Gómez
13Cillessen18Wass33GuillamónBooked at 84mins4Mangala14GayàBooked at 24mins20TorresSubstituted forGonçalo Guedesat 59’minutes10ParejoSubstituted forCoquelinat 69’minutesSubstituted forat 90+1’minutes6Kondogbia8SolerSubstituted forCheryshevat 69’minutes19RodrigoSubstituted forLeeat 76’minutesBooked at 89mins22GómezSubstituted forGameiroat 60’minutesSubstitutes1Doménech3Costa7Gonçalo Guedes9Gameiro11Cheryshev12Diakhaby15Vallejo Galván16Lee17Coquelin23Sobrino25FlorenziReferee:José María Sánchez Martínez
Live TextMatch ends, Real Madrid 3, Valencia 0.
Second Half ends, Real Madrid 3, Valencia 0.
Attempt missed. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Luka Modric with a cross.
Francis Coquelin went off injured after Valencia had used all subs.
Lee Kang-In (Valencia) is shown the red card.
Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Lee Kang-In (Valencia).
Hand ball by Eliaquim Mangala (Valencia).
Goal! Real Madrid 3, Valencia 0. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Marco Asensio.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Jasper Cillessen.
Attempt saved. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.
Hugo Guillamón (Valencia) is shown the yellow card for hand ball.
Hand ball by Hugo Guillamón (Valencia).
Offside, Real Madrid. Karim Benzema tries a through ball, but Sergio Ramos is caught offside.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by José Gayà.
Substitution, Real Madrid. Vinícius Júnior replaces Eden Hazard.
Corner, Valencia. Conceded by Daniel Carvajal.
Substitution, Valencia. Lee Kang-In replaces Rodrigo Moreno.
Goal! Real Madrid 2, Valencia 0. Marco Asensio (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ferland Mendy following a corner.
Substitution, Real Madrid. Marco Asensio replaces Federico Valverde.