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Sports desk: Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice and Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema added goals as Real Madrid beat Alaves 4-0 in the Spanish league on Saturday.<\/p>\nSports desk: Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice and Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema added goals as Real Madrid beat Alaves 4-0 in the Spanish league on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Benzema set up both Ronaldo\u2019s opener and a quick second goal by Bale to put the result beyond doubt seconds after halftime.<\/p>\n
Benzema used a subtle touch with the back of his heel to leave Ronaldo in position to drill the hosts\u2019 first goal into the net in the 44th minute.<\/p>\n
The French striker helped to double the lead less than 30 seconds into the second half after he stole possession from Alexis Ruano, catching Alaves defending a four-on-two attack. Benzema laid off for Bale to fire past goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco.<\/p>\n
Ronaldo got in his second goal in the 61st when he used one touch of his right boot to fire Lucas Vazquez\u2019s pass under Pacheco.Benzema converted a penalty in the 89th after Bale was fouled by Victor Larguardia in the area.<\/p>\n
Bale played in a new position for Madrid, as a left-side midfielder as opposed to his usual spot as a winger on the right.<\/p>\n
Besides scoring and generating a penalty, the Wales international went close to a second goal in the 54th when he curled a long strike that grazed the top of the bar.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to see him in that position and now we see how we play in the upcoming games,\u201d coach Zinedine Zidane said. \u201cPlaying with a 4-4-2 with Bale on the left worked well because Alexis (Ruano) couldn\u2019t join in attack. Then when we had the ball he had to move and not stay on the left and he did that well. Bale, Cristiano, Karim, Lucas, everyone played well as a group.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ronaldo\u2019s goals were his 27th and 28th of the season in all competitions and took his tally in La Liga to 14.<\/p>\n
Madrid, in third place, moved to within 11 points of Barcelona before the leader hosts Girona later.Alaves pair Alfonso Pedraza and Ruben Sobrino caused Madrid trouble with their attacks down the left side during a back-and-forth first half plagued by sloppy defending.<\/p>\n
Ruano had Alaves\u2019 best opportunity in the final seconds of the first half after Ronaldo scored, only for goalie Keylor Navas to block his effort.<\/p>\n
Madrid was without Sergio Ramos, serving a one-game suspension, and fellow starters Luka Modric, Marcelo and Toni Kroos due to injuries.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou build your confidence with games like this,\u201d Zidane said. \u201cMaybe we needed a game like this.\u201d<\/p>\n
With scant hopes of successfully defending its Liga title, Madrid is focused on repeating as the winner of the Champions League. It beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 in the first leg of their round-of-16 tie last week. It has league matches against Espanyol and Getafe before visiting Paris on March 6.AP.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Sports desk: Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice and Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema added goals as Real Madrid beat Alaves 4-0 in the Spanish league on Saturday. Benzema set up both Ronaldo\u2019s opener and a quick second goal by Bale to put the result beyond doubt seconds after halftime. Benzema used a subtle touch with the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":41569,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n