La Liga Matchday 28: Karim Benzema Scores Two To See Off Poor Hercules

With the points practically in the bag, Real Madrid will look back on a job well done, restricting Hercules to two or three chances with a makeshift defence and putting the away side to the sword with two clinical strikes from Karim Benzema who really has looked like a 30 million euro striker tonight. It hasnt just been the two goals, his link-up play and movement off the ball has been exemplary tonight.

With the match peetering out in intensity, Mesut Ozil almost made it three with a looping free-kick that Calatayud did well to tip over the bar. The keep has been about the only Hercules player that can leave the Bernabeu turf with his head held high tonight. Substitute Sami Khedira also had a half-chance after Adebayor had made a nuisance of himself but his shot rolled agonisingly past the post.

What a goal! The real Karim Benzema is beginning to stand up. A raking pass from Esteban Granero finds Karim Benzema way out wide on the left. Benzema then dribbled confidently into the area before a quick shimmy created space for the striker to fire an deadly accurate shot past Calatayud and in off the post. Benzema 2 – Adebayor 0 in the battle of the strikers.

Before the second goal it had been a one man show for Hercules as keeper Calatayud was keeping his side in it on his own, saving from Angel Di Maria and twice from Benzema. Both Di Maria and Ozil are vital to this Madrid team in the absence of Cristiano and the two youngsters are not dissapointing, moving the ball around confidently and kicking their team in gear when in possession.

For Esteban Vigos Hercules team, a side who have been in freefall in the second half of this season and who find themselves rooted in the bottom three, they will start with ex-Real Madrid striker Javier Portillo as a lone striker, with Abel Aguilar and Farinos the two midfield pivots who will be tasked with breaking up Madrid attacks and setting up Hercules counters.