European roundup: Real Madrid beat Rayo Vallecano with late Benzema goal

A late goal from Karim Benzema rescued a 1-0 win for Real Madrid at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, allowing the La Liga leaders to extend their advantage at the top of the table. They are now nine points clear of second-placed Sevilla, who will play third-placed Real Betis on Sunday.

Real Madrid looked slow and disjointed on a threadbare pitch and were almost held to a goalless draw until Benzema and Vinicius Jr, the club’s top two scorers this season, worked their magic seven minutes from time.

The French striker found Vinicius with a brilliant through pass and ran into space to receive the ball back, finishing finish from close range with a single touch, scoring his 19th league goal of the season.

The Real goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, made two magnificent saves in the second half, keeping out a bullet header from Mario Suárez and a close-range shot from Álvaro Garcia.

“It was a complicated game mostly due to the field being in very poor condition,” Courtois said afterwards. “I don’t think it’s good for La Liga’s image to play on a field like this. It’s far from ideal.”

The Rayo Vallecano players were far from happy when the referee, Isidro Diaz de Mera, failed to send off Casemiro when he essayed a studs-up challenge on Óscar Valentin. The incident was reviewed, but VAR allowed the yellow card shown by the referee to stand.

Later in the day Atlético Madrid had a 2-0 home victory over Celta Vigo thanks to two goals from the Brazilian Renan Lodi either side of half-time. The visitors had the majority of possession (65% to 35%) and more shots at goal (16 against 13) but were unable to make those areas of superiority count. Atlético stand 15 points behind Real Madrid, in fourth place.

A superb double from the Serbian striker