MADRID (AP) – Raphael Varane saved Real Madrid from a shipwreck in the Spanish La Liga.
The French defender achieved a double on Saturday with which the meringues celebrated a suffered 2-1 victory on their visit to bottom Huesca’s field.
Varane matched the cards with a header over the goal line in the 55th minute; The double came to fruition when he finished off a rebound from goalkeeper Álvaro Fernández at 84.
Javier Galán put the hosts in front with a superb cross shot from the edge of the area, which went through the squad at 48.
“We are going to win in confidence, so today’s victory is very important. It had been a long time since I had scored with Madrid, so I’m very happy because I always try to help the team, ”said Varane, who before this game had scored for the last time in the league on January 4, 2020 against Getafe.
The victory leaves Real Madrid in 2nd position in the standings with 43 points, seven less than the leader Atlético de Madrid, who will play their match for the 22nd match on Monday against Celta de Vigo. Barcelona, who have 40 points, could surpass them on goal difference if they beat Betis on Sunday.
With this victory, Real Madrid put an end to a losing streak against teams in the relegation zone, with which in recent days they let go of points by drawing with Elche (1-1) and Osasuna (0-0).
Huesca, last with 17 units, was a gale at the start of the complement, in which before going forward they had a great option with a striking pumped shot from Mikel Rico that hit the crossbar.
After having the advantage with Galán’s left-footed shot, Rafael Mir returned to disturb the goal of Belgian Thibaut Courtois with a new shot that crashed off the crossbar, in the worst moments of Madrid.
Benzema provoked the merengue reaction with the collection of a free kick that hit the crossbar; the ball went high so that Varane sent it to the nets with a header in the middle of several defenders.
Goalkeeper Fernández avoided Benzema in a couple of options, but could not stop a header from Brazilian Casemiro, and left the ball for Varane to send him to the nets to consummate the dramatic comeback of the defending champion with his first goals from the course.
The decimated merengue team did not once again have regular starters such as captain Sergio Ramos – who had a successful knee operation on Saturday – Lucas Vázquez, Dani Carvajal and Belgian Eden Hazard, as well as Isco Alarcón, Uruguayan Federico Valverde and Brazilian Rodrygo Goes due to injuries.
The French strategist Zinedine Zidane returned to the merengue bench after overcoming the contagion of COVID-19 that kept him in quarantine for the last two days.
Ramos, 34, had to undergo surgery on the left meniscus. At the moment, the club did not say how long he will be out. Generally, players who undergo this type of surgery take about six weeks to fully recover.
In another match on Saturday, Roberto Soldado scored in the discount to give Granada a 2-2 draw in the Levante field.
José Luis Morales converted a pair of goals (30 ‘and 67’) for the hosts, who are in ninth with 27 points. Brazilian Kenedy (43 ‘) and Soldado did it for Granada, eighth with 30 points.
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