Karim Benzema eyes on the ball prior to shooting and scoring his
second goal during the Spanish league football match between Real
Madrid CF and Valencia CF at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium in
Valdebebas, on the outskirts of Madrid, on June 18, 2020.JAVIER
SORIANO / AFP
Real Madrid’s top scorer this season Karim Benzema said
the La Liga champions are “on the right track” ahead of potentially
returning to the top of table with a win at Eibar on
Sunday.
Madrid, who last led the league last season, trail leaders
Atletico Madrid and second-placed Real Sociedad on goal difference
after a Benzema double in Tuesday’s 3-1 victory over Athletic
Bilbao took his tally up to 10 across all competitions for the
campaign.
Coach Zinedine Zidane had been under pressure following a run of
three games without a win in November with Spanish press linking
former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino and ex-Madrid forward
Raul forward to the Frenchman’s job.
“We are on the right track. We work together, we score goals, we
don’t concede,” Benzema told the club’s television channel.
“We have to continue game by game. They are all finals and three
points,” the 32-year-old added.
Zidane hailed Benzema, who last played for France in 2015, as
the best centre-forward in their country’s history after his
midweek performance.
The World Cup winner praised Benzema’s selfless efforts with the
forward supplying three assists this term.
“That’s why I like him so much, I love him, he’s not only
thinking about goals,” he said.
“He gets involved in the game, if he needs to pass to a teammate
he’ll do it.”
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Before Madrid’s trip to the Basque Country late on Sunday,
Atletico host 14th placed Elche on Saturday for their first league
fixture since last weekend’s capital city derby loss to Zidane’s
men.
Forward Diego Costa returned to training this week after
recovering from thrombosis but is unlikely to feature for Diego
Simeone’s side before the end of the calendar year.
Later on Saturday, early runaway leaders Real Sociedad head to
Levante but have drawn their previous six fixtures in all
competitions and will be without Belgium playmaker Adnan Januzaj
due to a muscle problem.
Fifth-placed Barcelona welcome Valencia after defender Jordi
Alba described Wednesday’s win over Real as their “best game of the
season”.
It allowed the Catalans to move six points off the leaders ahead
of this weekend.
Player to watch: Mikel OyarzabalSociedad’s captain has been
sidelined with a muscle problem since December 3’s Europa League
draw with Rijeka but could come back for the trip to Ciutat de
Valencia.
The Spain attacker had scored seven goals and created three
more, and the Basques failed to win and dropped down to second in
his absence.
Fixtures (times GMT)
Friday
Athletic Bilbao v Huesca (2000)
Saturday
Atletico Madrid v Elche (1300), Barcelona v Valencia (1515),
Levante v Real Sociedad, Osasuna v Villarreal (both 1730), Sevilla
v Real Valladolid (2000)
Sunday
Celta Vigo v Alaves (1300), Granada v Real Betis (1515), Cadiz v
Getafe (1730), Eibar v Real Madrid (2000)
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