Real Madrid 4-2 Almeria: Player ratings as Benzema scores hat-trick in goal fest
By Sean Walsh
Real Madrid returned to winning ways with a 4-2 victory at home to Almeria on Saturday.
Carlo Ancelotti's side were humiliated in a 4-2 defeat to Girona in midweek, but are back in La Liga's win column after a comfortable display back at the Santiago Bernabeu this weekend.
The hosts got off to a perfect start and opened the scoring with only five minutes on the clock. Eder Militao switched play to compatriot Vinicius Junior on the left wing, and he scampered down the line before crossing for Karim Benzema to finish.
Soon after, Real Madrid had a second. Rodrygo danced past Samu with a back-heel on the byline and cut the ball back for Benzema, who simply passed the ball into the far corner.
Largie Ramazani and Lazaro both went close for the visitors as a result of some slopping defending from Spain's reigning champions.
But just as Almeria looked to be getting a foot in the game, Ramazani foolishly tripped Vazquez and the hosts were awarded a penalty, which Benzema converted to secure a first half hat-trick.
With essentially the last kick of the half, Ramazani went some way to atoning that discretion with a superb cross for Lazaro to tap in as Almeria went into the break with a goal to their name.
Almeria's minor of hopes of a comeback were well and truly extinguished within two minutes of the restart. Rodrygo managed to find himself in plenty of space on the edge of the box, swivelling and firing into the top corner with ease.
Substitute Lucas Robertone scored Almeria's second goal of the evening. Toni Kroos gifted possession to Francisco Portillo, and his cross was headed in at the near post by the Argentine midfielder.
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Real Madrid had the ball in the net for a fifth time when Rodrygo headed home a Vazquez cross, though he was standing in an offside position and the goal was immediately chalked off.
Minutes later, Rodrygo was denied by a superb save by Fernando Martinez when slipped through by Benzema.
Los Blancos were awarded a second penalty of the evening heading into the game's final ten minutes. Rodrigo Ely fell under pressure from Benzema, who rounded him and was brought down by Martinez. But after a VAR check, Ely was proven to have been tripped by the French striker and so the decision was reversed.
Benzema rattled the post with a thumping strike from the edge of the area late on but he wasn't able to add to his treble.
Another goal was ruled out for offside when Vazquez's outside-of-the-boot cross was headed in by Eduardo Camavinga, with the Spaniard straying too far up-field in the move.
Marco Asensio struck the upright with the next attack but Real Madrid had to settle for just the four goals.
Real Madrid move to within eight points of Barcelona ahead of their meeting with Real Betis later on Saturday, while Almeria sit only two points outside the relegation zone.
Real Madrid player ratings (4-3-3)
GK: Thibaut Courtois - 5/10 - Hardly worked, though will be annoyed not to have kept a clean sheet.
RB: Lucas Vazquez - 5/10 - Guilty of some errant passing on occasion.
CB: Eder Militao - 7/10 - His excellent range of passing helped lead to the opener.
CB: Antonio Rudiger - 6/10 - Harshly judged to have been too aggressive on occasion.
LB: Eduardo Camavinga - 7/10 - Hard to believe that Camavinga doesn't enjoy playing at left-back when he turns in such fine performances.
DM: Aurelien Tchouameni - 7/10 - Kept play ticking in the middle of the park.
CM: Dani Ceballos - 7/10 - Another game in which you understand why Real Madrid fans are so keen for the midfielder to stay.
CM: Toni Kroos - 6/10 - The metronome for the most part but a stray pass gave Almeria a glimmer of hope in the second half.
RW: Rodrygo - 9/10 - Whether on the wing or in-field, Rodrygo tormented Almeria all evening long.
CF: Karim Benzema - 10/10 - Now only one goal behind Robert Lewandowski in the race for La Liga's Golden Boot.
LW: Vinicius Junior - 8/10 - Hugged the touchline and was given quite a bruising by Almeria simply because he's so, so good.
Substitutes
Nacho Fernandez (72' for Kroos) - 5/10
Marco Asensio (72' for Rodrygo) - 5/10
Danu Carvajal (82' for Vinicius) - N/A
Manager
Carlo Ancelotti - 7/10 - Real Madrid were dominant but that creeping complacency was also present.
Almeria player ratings (4-5-1)
GK: Fernando Martinez (5); RB: Houboulang Mendes (3), CB: Juan Brandariz (5), CB: Rodrigo Ely (5), LB: Sergio Akieme (5); RM: Arnau Puigmai (5), CM: Francisco Portillo (6), CM: Cesar de la Hoz (5), CM: Samu (4), LM: Largie Ramazani (5); CF: Lazaro (7)
SUBS: Lucas Robertone (7), Inigo Eguaras (5), Luis Suarez (5), Gonzalo Molero (N/A), Alex Centelles (N/A)