Later Benzema Brace Rescues Real's, Title Hopes

Real Madrid held their title hopes alive just after Karim Benzema's last-minute champion gave them an essential 2-1 victory over Elche at Estadio Alfredo di Stefano on Saturday.

Zidane made four changes to Madrid's beginning line-up with Sergio Ramos, Valverde, Isco and Vinicius all recalled. Meanwhile, Escriba made just one single transformation to the Eibar aspect with Mojica coming in for the benched Josema and Morente desired to Josan.

Los Blancos had the ball in the rear of the net found in the 14th minute when Nacho hit a good fierce shot in to the top-left corner, although whistle had opted for Isco's foul on Calvo.

Madrid were desperate for a win to keep their title hopes alive and were pushing everyone forward basically except for the covering Ramos and Varane.

On the half-hour indicate, Isco let fly from 25 yards. He did not connect with it cleanly and Badia had a simple save to create down the middle.

In the 36th minute, Madrid broke quickly. Vinicius was performed into space down the proper and chosen Benzema with a minimal cross, however the striker didn't properly adapt his feet and fired wide of the target from a good position.

Five mints following the interval, Elche didn't distinct their lines from a corner and Mendy floated it back to the box. Benzema have well to regulate the ball and spin, but his shot finished in the side-netting.

Elche were rewarded for a good performance thus far when they took the lead on the hour tag. Morente delivered a part to the border of the six-yard field and Calvo got in front of Varane to power a header in off the lower of the crossbar.

Even so, Zidane's side equalised in the 71st minute. Kroos played the corner short to Modric, who swung in a tempting cross in to the six-yard field for Benzema to brain home.

And just when it looked as though Los Blancos would have to settle for a talk about of the spoils, Benzema grabbed his second in the dying moments of the overall game to snatch an essential victory. It was a sublime surface finish from the French striker to save Madrid. Rodrygo chested the ball into Benzema's course and he fizzed a brilliant shot across Badia and in off the considerably post from 16 yards out for a dramatic ending to the match.