European roundup: Benzema returns Real Madrid to winning ways

Karim Benzema scored two penalties but missed another as Real Madrid returned to winning ways in La Ligawith a 2-1 win at Celta Vigo on Saturday.

Benzema, who also had another spot kick saved in Vigo, missed Madrid’s 4-0 defeat to Barcelona before the two-week international break as he recovered from a left-leg injury.

Celta took the game to the league leaders, only to be undone by some rash defending in its area and some borderline calls by the referee. The third penalty that set up Benzema’s 70th-minute winner came after a questionable foul when Ferland Mendy stumbled over the leg of Kevin Vázquez. Celta also had a goal waived off in the first half after a video review.

“The first two were penalties, but the third was not,” Celta striker Iago Aspas said. “Mendy was going full steam and ran over our defender. I think it was a foul in our favour.”

Madrid opened a 12-point gap over Sevilla and a 15-point advantage over Barcelona and Atlético Madrid Madrid’s coach, Carlo Ancelotti, missed the match after testing positive for Covid this week. His son, Davide Ancelotti, took his place.

In Germany RB Leipzig’s Konrad Laimer scored twice and set up a third goal for a stunning 4-1 victory at second-placed Borussia Dortmund on Saturday that all but killed off the hosts’ slim title hopes.

The result left Dortmund nine points behind leaders Bayern Munich, 4-1 winners at Freiburg, with six games remaining.

Leipzig, who tightened their hold on fourth place, struck against the run of play when Laimer chipped the ball over keeper Gregor Kobel in the 21st minute to shock the first sold-out crowd in the Signal Iduna Park in more than two years.

What was meant to be a big football party for the hosts, with top striker Erling Haaland in