Girona Vs Real Madrid Copa Del Rey 31 January Review

Karim Benzema’s double ensured that Real Madrid ran out 3-1 winners of their Copa Del Rey opponents, Girona to progress to the semi-finals of the competition 7-3 on aggregate. The forward became the sixth highest goal scorer for the club after his double took his tally to 209 goals in 446 games.

Girona put up a good fight in the first leg, one in which they eventually lost 3-2. They looked to settle the scores and prove a point in front of their home fans with Alex Granell hitting the bar from a fine freekick. The fans must be scratching their heads for that.

Benzema took the first real chance for Los Blancos but missed. However, the French man soon repaid the faith of the manager in him by taking a sublime left-footed finish from the edge of the box just inside of 27 minutes.

Cristhian Stuani got a fine chance to bring Girona back into the game but he squandered it only for Benzema to once again punish the 14th-placed side and double his tally for the night.

Madrid came into the second half with not so much to fight for other than preserve their lead and conserve energy for their Liga match against Alaves.

It was for this reason that Benzema was substituted in the second half with Spanish midfielder Marco Asensio coming on for the French striker.

That said, the substitution almost yielded fruits three minutes later as the Spaniard sent in a low drive which was parried away by Iraizoz only for Vazquez to smash the rebound against the upright.

Bale was brought in for brilliant Vinicius who had set up Benzema for his second goal. Eusebio Sacristan’s side however didn’t make that substitution count as they got themselves an equalizer.

Girona who had a mountain to climb struggled and struggled but for all their efforts couldn’t make the mark.

Girona 1-3 Real Madrid