Sevilla kept pace with Madrid by beating Osasuna 2-0, while
Real Sociedad is level on points with the other two front-runners before it
hosts Athletic Bilbao in a regional derby on Sunday.
Vinícius opened the scoring at Elche with a 22nd-minute
strike. After midfielder Raúl Guti was sent off for a second booking, the
Brazilian winger then put the result beyond doubt in the 73rd.
Elche substitute Pere Milla pulled one back with four
minutes to play, but it was not enough to keep his side unbeaten at home this
campaign.
The 21-year-old Vinícius once again showed his much-improved
finishing. The double took his tally in all competitions to nine in 14
appearances this season, compared to six goals in 47 outings in 2020-21.
“This is thanks to the work I have been putting in since I
arrived,” said Vinícius, who debuted for Madrid aged 18 after the club had
secured his transfer from Brazil’s Flamengo when he was 16.
Carlo Ancelotti rested Benzema ahead of Madrid’s Champions
League match against Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday.
Madrid’s only victory in its previous four league games came
last weekend when it won 2-1 at Barcelona.
Mariano Díaz played his first minutes of the season in
Benzema’s place. The rarely used striker showed his reflexes were still sharp
when he used his heel to knock a pass from Casemiro into the path of Vinícius
for him to fire under Kiko Casilla.
Elche almost equalized thanks to Lucas Boyé. The striker
stole the ball from David Alaba in the box, only for Lucas Pérez to waste a
back-heeled pass by Javier Pastore that left him alone with only Thibaut
Courtois to beat.
Elche was pressing for an equalizer when Guti made a
dangerous tackle on Toni Kroos and was sent off in the 63rd.
Vinícius finished Elche off when he chipped the ball over
Casilla from a tight angle after Luka Modric played him clear with one touch.
Milla scored against the flow of play when Casemiro’s pass
near his area was intercepted, leaving the forward alone to beat Courtois.
Madrid lost forward Rodrygo in the opening minutes to what
appeared to be a leg injury.
Barcelona plays its first match since the firing of Ronald
Koeman later Saturday when caretaker coach Sergi Barjuan leads the team against
Alavés at Camp Nou. Villarreal visits Valencia.
On Sunday, Real Betis can pull level with Madrid, Sociedad
and Sevilla if it beats Atlético Madrid.
OSASUNA LOSES AWAY
Sevilla ended Osasuna’s undefeated road record this season
with a goal in each half under heavy rain at the Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium.
Defender Diego Carlos put the hosts ahead in the 40th by
heading in Ivan Rakitic’s corner. Lucas Ocampos added a second after a
defensive error in the 60th.
Osasuna was left in seventh place after its first loss in
six away games. -AP
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