Real Madrid 1-0 Real Mallorca - Benzema spares Real's blushes

Posted Sunday, January 23, 2011 by PA

Under-pressure striker Karim Benzema scored only his second league goal of the season to help Real Madrid record a narrow 1-0 victory over Real Mallorca at the Bernabeu.

Benzema, who has struggled to impress since his big-money move from Lyon in 2009 and found himself under the spotlight as Madrid search for striking reinforcements, netted the only goal of the game in the 61st minute.

The victory saw Jose Mourinho's side cut the gap to leaders Barcelona back to four points, while Mallorca missed the chance to close the three-point difference to Atletico Madrid in sixth place.

Having been held to a 1-1 draw by bottom club Almeria last weekend and seen Barca go seven points clear with their 3-0 win on Saturday, Madrid knew they could ill afford to drop any points.

But that looked in danger of being the case following a poor first half in which the home side, who reached the Copa del Rey semi-finals in midweek after knocking out rivals Atletico, failed to test visiting goalkeeper Dudu Aouate even once.

In fact, Madrid were fortunate not to be trailing at the break as Mallorca, who have beaten Sevilla and Valencia away this season as well as drawing with Barca at the Nou Camp, came within inches of taking the lead when they hit the woodwork in the 12th minute.

Emilio Nsue had the chance after finding himself in acres of space, but his low shot came back off the inside of the far post and Madrid could breathe again.

Mourinho opted to make two changes at the break, bringing on first-choice regulars Xabi Alonso and Mesut Ozil for Kaka and Fernando Gago in a bid to spark his side into life.

However, before either player could make an impact Madrid survived another scare when, soon after the restart, Pierre Webo's close-range volley brought a block out of Iker Casillas.

Madrid finally gave Aouate something serious to think about in the 58th minute when he was forced to tip over a rising cross-shot from Cristiano Ronaldo.

And the hosts did not have to wait much longer to take the lead as just two minutes later Benzema found the back of the net.

The Frenchman did well to create space for himself on the edge of the box before firing a low left-footed shot past Aouate.

Although he struck two hat-tricks in December in the Champions League and Copa del Rey, that was Benzema's first league goal since September and Madrid, who are looking to bring in a striker to cover the loss of the injured Gonzalo Higuain, will be hoping it will be the catalyst for better times ahead for the 23-year-old.

Having finally made the breakthrough, Madrid pushed on for the second goal and Ronaldo and Benzema both fired wide before the former headed an Ozil cross against the bar.

Benzema also missed a chance to double his account for the evening late on after being denied when one-on-one with Aouate, and that could have proved costly if Webo had made the most of his opportunity in stoppage time.

However, the Cameroon striker saw his shot blocked by Casillas at his near post as Madrid held on for their 19th successive home win in all competitions.