Leganes and Real Madrid ended in a goalless draw with Karim Benzema scoring from a beautiful move by Luka Modric to cancel out a first time goal from Jonathan Silva, as Kenneth Omeruo’s team picked up their first ever La Liga point against the Spanish capital club.
Real Madrid had the first Real chance of the game, with Marcos Asensio set on goal, but fluffed his chances by hitting a poor shot to the goalkeeper, but just before the break, Jonathan Silva curled a lovely shot past Keylor Navas, before Karim Benzema levelled matters 5 minutes after the restart.
Zinedine Zidane named another changed side, with French striker Karim Benzema being the only player to have played all Real Madrid’s matches since the return of the club legend, with youngster Federico Valverde making his third La Liga start for the Los Blancos, and Dani Carvajal returned to the team after recovering from injury.
Real Madrid missed the chance to get within touching distance of Atletico Madrid as Zinedine Zidane’s side were held to a 1-1 draw by Leganes in LaLiga. Atletico’s 2-0 win over Celta Vigo on Saturday saw them move five points clear of third-placed Madrid, who had to rely on the in-form Karim Benzema to salvage a draw in a rare Monday outing.
Jonathan Silva’s goal had given Leganes a deserved lead late in the first half, but Benzema drew his side level with his 18th LaLiga goal of the season six minutes after the restart. Youssef En-Nesyri thought he had clinched a famous win for Leganes late on, but the offside flag sparred Madrid’s blushes in what was a frustrating outing for the visitors.
5 – @Benzema has scored the last five @realmadrid goals in LaLiga. Crucial. pic.twitter.com/xqwLHgFtIa
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) April 15, 2019
Zidane saw his team make a break start, Marco Asensio failing to direct a close-range effort either side of Ivan Cuellar after 10 minutes. Madrid should have been made to pay four minutes later, only for Martin Braithwaite to head wide from three yards out after getting the better of Nacho, playing in a defence minus the services of the injured Sergio Ramos.
But Madrid were punished on the stroke of half-time, Braithwaite teeing up Silva, who gave Keylor Navas little chance with a precise finish to the goalkeeper’s right. Leganes’ lead was short-lived, though, Benzema – who had been played in brilliantly by Luka Modric – tucking home at the second attempt from a tight angle following a fine initial save from Cuellar.
Substitute En-Nesyri was rightly flagged offside as Leganes pushed for a winner, with Cuellar on top form at the other end to deny Marcelo and ensure a well-deserved point against their illustrious city rivals.
What next?
Real Madrid will welcome Basque side Atletic Bilbao to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu while Leganes will go away to face Samuel Chukueze’s club side Villarreal on match day 33 at the weekend.
