silentassassin
Face Of The Franchise
Karim Benzema scored his first Real Madrid hat-trick as suspended boss Jose Mourinho saw his men run out 4-0 winners over Auxerre on Wednesday. The result means unbeaten Group G winners Madrid finish with a goal difference of plus 13 and surpassed the 300-goal mark in the UEFA Champions League.
Cristiano Ronaldo also got on the score-sheet and was instrumental in the win, but his second-half withdrawal allowed Frenchman Benzemato shine. It took the hosts just 12 minutes to break the deadlock and it was Ronaldo who provided it, delivering an inviting cross for Benzema to stoop and nod in from close range.
Ten minutes later, Ronaldo should have opened his scoring account for the night, but could only power a header wide after great wing play from Pedro Leon, making a rare start for the hosts. Auxerre threatened an equaliser on 27 minutes as Jean-Pascal Mignot spun away from Raul Albiol, who received a yellow card in conceding the free-kick which led to the chance, and nodded on target only for Jerzy Dudek to make the save.
Besides brief counter-attacks, the French side spent the majority of the opening period defending in large numbers inside their own half and struggled to retain possession when given the chance to do so.
Cristiano Ronaldo also got on the score-sheet and was instrumental in the win, but his second-half withdrawal allowed Frenchman Benzemato shine. It took the hosts just 12 minutes to break the deadlock and it was Ronaldo who provided it, delivering an inviting cross for Benzema to stoop and nod in from close range.
Ten minutes later, Ronaldo should have opened his scoring account for the night, but could only power a header wide after great wing play from Pedro Leon, making a rare start for the hosts. Auxerre threatened an equaliser on 27 minutes as Jean-Pascal Mignot spun away from Raul Albiol, who received a yellow card in conceding the free-kick which led to the chance, and nodded on target only for Jerzy Dudek to make the save.
Besides brief counter-attacks, the French side spent the majority of the opening period defending in large numbers inside their own half and struggled to retain possession when given the chance to do so.