Benzema helps Madrid beat Alaves 3-0, increase lead in Spain

The Colombia global has struggled to tie down a regular starting spot in Zinedine Zidane’s first-team at Real Madrid amid competition from Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Isco and Karim Benzema.

However, the playmaker has endured a tougher time over the last two seasons, as a after notching eight goals and eight assists last season, Rodriguez has started just seven La Liga games this term, registering only two league goals.

This is an important win because Real Madrid can not afford to lose any points that they are supposed to win.

Real Madrid star James Rodriguez has always been linked with an exit from the Bernabeu, but it looks as though this summer could finally be the end.

For much of their Sunday match at home to Deportivo Alaves, Real Madrid failed to make their theoretical superiority show. Leganes went ahead in the 29th minute through Alexander Szymanowski. “We are motivated, we know we are capable of doing it and we are going to give it all we have got”.

Granada remain second-bottom, eight points adrift of safety. I am happy with his performance, not only for the goal but for what he did between the lines, what he helped the others do.

Sevilla’s stuttering home draw with Sporting was without doubt a big disappointment for boss Jorge Sampaoli. So far, the “cream” business is very good, and the victory in the last round over Athletic 1: 2, was the third consecutive, bringing a win-win series to five matches in a row.

“The team isn’t taking advantage of its chances”, Sampaoli said.

April will be the most hard month for Real Madrid.

Carvajal received a pass from Benzema on the right and cut inside to send the ball bouncing back to the Frenchmman who lashed it into the net. “I was looking for more balance”. I’m delighted for the game he had. “The Betis fans had said some things to me, as a Sevillista, but it doesn’t matter now”.

The dropped points left Vincenzo Montella’s squad in seventh place in the table, two places and four points adrift of the final Europa League qualifying spot.