Karim Benzema scored 300 goals for Real Madrid and Vinicius Jr created another moment of magic as the fledgling La Liga leaders beat Valencia 4-1 on Saturday. Benzema and Vinicius both scored twice at the Santiago Bernabeu to send Madrid eight points ahead of second-placed Sevilla, who have two games in hand, the first against Getafe on Sunday. Benzema’s 300th goal came from the penalty spot, before Vinicius bamboozled five Valencia defenders through a one-two with his French teammate to score a stunning second goal at the start of the second half.
Vinicius then finished third and Benzema added a late fourth, converting penalties for the hosts on either side of Goncalo Guedes.
Benzema now has 17 goals this season and Vinicius has 12 goals, 29 more than a total of 13 teams in the division, including fourth-placed Real Sociedad.
“I feel great with Vinicius,” Benzema said. “I’m always here to help him, I know his potential, I think he can reach even higher levels. He’s a great player for us.”
Benzema’s triple century came after 584 matches for Real Madrid. Joining the venerable trio of Cristiano Ronaldo, Ral and Alfredo Di Stefano, he is the fourth player in the club’s history to reach the milestone.
Barcelona and Real Madrid will face off in the semi-finals of the Spanish Super Cup on Wednesday, but the Catalan must now watch with envy at Madrid’s attack.
A lack of punch had previously hurt Barca Dear in a 1–1 draw with Granada, forcing them to miss a chance to move into La Liga’s top four.
Instead they are sixth on points level with Atletico Madrid, who still face Villarreal on Sunday. Real Sociedad are in fourth place after they previously won 1–0 at home to Celta Vigo.
Luc de Jong led Xavi Hernández’s side at Los Carmenis, only to equalize in the 89th minute for Granada’s Antonio Puertas, 10 minutes after Barcelona’s 17-year-old Gavi was sent off.
De Jong nodded in a cross from 38-year-old Danny Alves, who was making his first La Liga appearance since May 2016.
“We needed to be patient to keep the ball and play in the opposition half, but we lost silly balls, it was our mistakes,” said Xavi Hernandez.
Gavi’s mistake put Granada in motion at a crucial moment but Barcelona’s lack of goals means they are constantly vulnerable to the slightest error. They have won only one game since October with more than one goal.
“We had to finish the game before we could send. It should have been 2-0. We have to be self-critical and grow,” Xavi said.
Madrid were more clinical. Luka Modric had already hit the crossbar when Casemiro was brought down in the area by Omar Alderte and Benzema curled in a penalty.
Vinicius scored a brilliant second goal in the 52nd minute, advancing into the area with a group of Valencia defenders.
After a one-two with Benzema, it appeared the Brazilian was stopped by Moktar Dykhabi, but he kept going and the ball came loose, causing him to sidefoot into the corner.
Vinicius nodded into a third on the line and Valencia’s Guedes pulled back once from the penalty spot, before Benzema’s smart finish gave him the game’s second, 301st overall and Madrid’s fourth.
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