MADRID, Sept 15, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Karim Benzema scored twice for Real
Madrid in a 3-2 win against Levante with Eden Hazard making his La Liga debut
while later Barcelona breezed to a 5-2 win against Valencia on Saturday with
more magic from 16-year-old Ansu Fati.
Benzema’s goals came just six minutes apart in the first half at a wet
Santiago Bernabeu, before Casemiro put Real 3-0 up.
However Levante, who had won their previous two outings, made a fight of it
in the second half as they pulled goals back through Borja Mayoral and
Gonzalo Melero.
“The second half was more difficult for us, but the overall feeling was
positive,” said coach Zinedine Zidane, whose team had drawn their previous
two games.
“We have got the three points and we were incredible in the first half, the
way we played, the goals, the commitment. We just need to stay focused for
the full 90 minutes.”
Hazard also came off the bench for the final half-hour to make his first La
Liga appearance after a thigh injury had interrupted the start of his Real
career following his 100 million-euro ($110 million) move from Chelsea.
The Belgian could now start when Real go to Paris Saint-Germain for their
opening Champions League game on Wednesday.
“I am happy for him,” said Zidane. “He will do us good. He is not ready yet
though — he has only trained four times with the team. But when everyone is
fit, when we have our rhythm, we will hurt teams.”
Gareth Bale will also be available to face PSG after suspension kept him
out here, but Sergio Ramos will be unable to play because of a European ban.
Zidane was also without the injured Luka Modric here. However, as well as
Hazard, fellow summer signing Eder Militao came off the bench in the second
half and the former Porto defender could start in Paris.
– Fati scores again –
Real would have won by a greater margin here had it not been for some
inspired goalkeeping from Aitor Fernandez, who produced a stunning one-handed
stop to keep out a Benzema shot midway through the first half.
Atletico Madrid retained their place at the top of the table, but only by
one point from Real Madrid after their first defeat of the season when they
lost 2-0 at Real Sociedad at the Basque club’s newly refurbished stadium.
Later, former Real Madrid assistant coach Albert Celades replaced sacked
Marcelino Garcia Toral as boss of Valencia who were routed 5-2 at Barcelona.
With Lionel Messi still out and watching from the stands it was left to
Fati, the teenager from Guinea-Bissau, to take the plaudits.
Fati, who became the third youngest La Liga scorer when he came off the
bench to net in a 2-2 draw at Osasuna this month, scored again in the second
minute, before providing the assist for Frenkie de Jong’s 7th minute goal.
The teenager earned his standing ovation from the Camp Nou crowd when he
came off after an hour.
“It’s not usual that on his first touch he scores, and on his second he
sets up a goal,” said Barca coach Ernesto Valverde.
“To get used to being a Barca player is work for anyone, even more so for a
boy so young, but he’s a balanced kid, he strikes me as being at ease.”
Kevin Gameiro got Valencia off the mark but a brace from the fit again Luis
Suarez after a contribution from Gerard Pique meant Max Gomez’s injury time
second for the visitors was purely academic.