Benzema brace sinks sevilla, Barca blank Rayo
30 April 2012 10:16 PM IST
Real Madrid edged closer to their first league title in four years with a 3-0 win over Sevilla, but Barcelona ensured their celebrations were put on hold with a 7-0 mauling of Rayo Vallecano.
Karim Benzema struck a second half brace after Cristiano Ronaldo had given Real the lead to beat Sevilla as Real took their record breaking haul of league goals for the season to 112 on Sunday.
Victory against Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday will guarantee a first title since 2008 for Jose Mourinho's team.
'It was an important win and the team deserves to be champions as the players have shown their mentality and character,' said Real assistant coach Aitor Karanka.
Referring to their Champions League exit at the hands of Bayern Munich, he added: 'The players went into the game tired and down but they responded well, even though winning the league will not cure anything. We will go out looking to win games even when we are the champions, if that happens, as we only have one plan. It will be fantastic to win the league and it is the most important objective at the moment.'
Mourinho, looking to wrap up the championship as quickly as possible, fielded his strongest side with the only change from the Bayern match being the introduction of Esteban Granero for Sami Khedira.
Both Ronaldo and Benzema tested the visitors' defence with a number of dangerous runs and it seemed a matter of when and not if the hosts would score the opener.
The breakthrough came after 19 minutes when Benzema supplied Ronaldo in the box, allowing the Portuguese striker to turn inside Jorge Coke before smashing the ball into the corner.
Karim Benzema struck a second half brace after Cristiano Ronaldo had given Real the lead to beat Sevilla as Real took their record breaking haul of league goals for the season to 112 on Sunday.
Victory against Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday will guarantee a first title since 2008 for Jose Mourinho's team.
'It was an important win and the team deserves to be champions as the players have shown their mentality and character,' said Real assistant coach Aitor Karanka.
Referring to their Champions League exit at the hands of Bayern Munich, he added: 'The players went into the game tired and down but they responded well, even though winning the league will not cure anything. We will go out looking to win games even when we are the champions, if that happens, as we only have one plan. It will be fantastic to win the league and it is the most important objective at the moment.'
Mourinho, looking to wrap up the championship as quickly as possible, fielded his strongest side with the only change from the Bayern match being the introduction of Esteban Granero for Sami Khedira.
Both Ronaldo and Benzema tested the visitors' defence with a number of dangerous runs and it seemed a matter of when and not if the hosts would score the opener.
The breakthrough came after 19 minutes when Benzema supplied Ronaldo in the box, allowing the Portuguese striker to turn inside Jorge Coke before smashing the ball into the corner.
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