Real Madrid had a perfect reaction after their last league game, after beating Valencia 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday night.
Madrid lost to Getafe in their first league game in 2022 by a goal to nil and needed a commanding performance to get their league title race back underway.
Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema were both on the scoresheet and despite Thibaut Courtois‘ penalty save, he was unable to keep a clean sheet against Los Che.
The Los Blancos came into Saturday’s game at the back of a 3-1 win over CD Alcoyano in the Spanish Copa del Rey. They also beat FC Cartagena away from home with a 2-1 scoreline in the same competition in midweek. However, a defeat to Madrid now means Jose Bordalas’ men have now lost back to back leagues in the new year.
Real Madrid opened the scoring in the 43rd minute of the game after Casemeiro was brought down in the penalty box with a spot-kick being awarded.
Benzema, hoping to score his 300th Madrid goal, stepped up and dispatched the ball into the net and give his side the lead before the half-time whistle.
After the recess, Carlo Ancelotti’s side began to find spaces in the opposition’s half as they pressed and played for more goals.
Seven minutes into the second half, a swift interchange between Toni Kroos, Vinicius and Benzema saw the Brazilian being played through on goal before advancing past two defenders and putting the ball in the net.
Eight minutes later, Vinicius scored his second of the night nodding over the line and into the net after Valencia’s goalkeeper made a brilliant save from Marco Asensio’s shot from the box.
A foul by Ferland Mendy saw the away side being awarded with a penalty in the 76th minute of the game with Goncalo Guedes stepping forward to take.
Shot-stopper, Courtois made a save from the spot-kick but couldn’t keep out the rebound as Guedes pulled one back for Valencia.
And with two minutes to go until full-time, Benzema grabbed his brace, striking home after the ball was played into his path by Mendy.
Real Madrid now turns their attention to the Spanish Super Cup where they face Barcelona in the semi-final on Wednesday.
