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Real Madrid upstage Betis in thrilling La Liga encounter

By Najam Arfeen

SEVILLE, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 18: Marco Asensio of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the La Liga match between Real Betis and Real Madrid at Benito Villamrin stadium on February 18, 2018 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)
SEVILLE, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 18: Marco Asensio of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the La Liga match between Real Betis and Real Madrid at Benito Villamrin stadium on February 18, 2018 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images) /
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Real Madrid continue to improve in their quest for salvation…

It was evidently a night of two halves at the Benito Villamarin as Real Madrid rallied to overturn a first-half deficit. Zidane opted for a rotated line-up after his side’s midweek victory in the Champions League and it looked to have cost him dearly – but his players seemed determined to avoid another upset.

An early goal from Marco Asensio seemed to have put Los Blancos on the path to victory, but Betis were unrelenting in their attacking pursuits. The equalizer came in the 33rd minute after a wonderful delivery from Joaquin was nodded in by Aissa Mandi. It was a deserved goal for a side which has been imperious in recent weeks.

Betis were able to take the lead just a few minutes later, forcing Nacho to scoop the ball into his own net after Keylor Navas made the initial save. It was uncharacteristically poor defending from the Spaniard, who has been a standout performer in an otherwise porous defensive line. However, Zidane’s half-time talk paid dividends for Real Madrid as they ran rampant after the interval.

Just five minutes after the restart, Sergio Ramos thumped a trademark header into the back of the net to level the score-line. Betis were noticeably unsettled by their opposition’s energetic start, and the situation continue to worsen for the Andalusian side. Asensio got his second goal of the game after Caravajal’s mazy run found him unmarked in the box – rifling the ball past the keeper with his first touch.

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This surge continued for Real Madrid as Ronaldo looked to add his name to the score-sheet. The Portuguese legend received the ball in the box and quickly set himself up to smash the ball past Adan. It was an unstoppable effort from the forward, who is quickly making up for his underwhelming form in the early stages of the season.

Despite the two-goal disadvantage, Betis were unwilling to accept defeat. The men in green continued to throw bodies forward, and they got themselves back into the game in the 85th minute through Sergio Leon. It was a nervy finish for the away side, especially with their recent susceptibility at the death. Luckily for Madrid, Benzema’s late introduction was enough to kill of the game.

Next: Real Madrid making intriguing offer for Hazard

The much-maligned Frenchman played a quick one-two with Lucas Vazquez on the edge of the box and expertly finished to notch his first league goal since November. His team will be hoping it’s the first of many for their number 9, who has struggled to perform consistently in recent months. In any case, Zidane would’ve undoubtedly been pleased with the character shown by his side as they look to rejuvenate their season after a torrid start.

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