Real Madrid in comeback win over Eibar

Karim Benzema struck two second half goals to turn around Real Madrid’s home game against Eibar, closing the gap on Atletico Madrid in second place in the Liga table.

Zinedine Zidane made a number of changes to his team, with Sergio Reguilon coming in for the suspended Marcelo and Gareth Bale and Isco returning to the lineup. This, it seems, contributed to the disjointed nature of Real Madrid’s first half performance.

Bale missed a one-on-one just five minutes in, with Benzema seeing a goal chalked off soon after. But Eibar soon took control of the contest and took the lead six minutes from the break when Marc Cardona chipped a clever finish over Keylor Navas having been played through by Gonzalo Escalante.

Real Madrid took a grip of things in the second half and restored parity through Benzema, who headed home from a Marco Asensio cross into the middle. And Benzema grabbed a second with just eight minutes left, getting on the end of another cross into the box.

The result for the capital club sees them close the gap on Atletico Madrid in second place to just two points with Diego Simeone’s side away to Barcelona this evening.

Spanish sports daily Marca published a graphic on Saturday morning that illustrated just how poor attendances have been at the Santiago Bernabeu this season. The trend continued with only 50,000 fans turning up for this home match against Eibar. Empty seats have become a common feature of Real Madrid home fixtures and that lethargy has transmitted to the players on the pitch, who are increasingly struggling to raise themselves for what are essentially dead rubbers.

Not for the first time this season, Benzema got his team out of trouble here. Not many at Real Madrid have done their jobs this season, but nobody can point fingers at the French striker who has 26 for the season and six in his last five games. At a time when players are fighting for their futures at the Santiago Bernabeu, Benzema has surely done enough to earn the faith and trust of Zidane.

Real Madrid - Navas 5, Odriozola 5, Nacho 5, Varane 6, Reguilon 5, Valverde 5, Modric 7, Isco 6, Bale 5, Asensio 6, Benzema 8. Subs - Vazquez 7, Kroos 7, Brahim 5.

Eibar - Dmitrovic 6, De Blasis 5, Ramis 7, Oliveira 6, Cote 6, Angel 5, Escalante 7, Alvarez 6, Jordan 5, Cucurella 8, Enrich 6. Subs - Orellana 5, Pena 5, Charles 5.

5’ Bale was clean through! The Welsh winger should have opened the scoring for Real Madrid! Isco played the pass in behind for Bale, but Dmitrovic makes the save to deny him from a one-on-one situation.

10’ GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO... NO! Benzema has the ball in the back of the net, finishing from close range after a Bale cross, but the flag is up for offside against the Welshman.

39’ GOAL! Real Madrid 0-1 Eibar: The visitors have taken the lead at the Santiago Bernabeu and they deserve it! Eibar have been the better team. Real Madrid's defence was picked apart by Escalante and Cardona, the ex Barcelona player, chips a finish over Navas! Wonderful goal from Eibar!

57’ GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO... NO! It's a second ruled out goal for Benzema! The ball was played over the top, Dmitrovic came out and the ball spun up into the air, allowing Benzema to finish into the empty net! But he was offside! That was close.

59’ GOAL! Real Madrid 1-1 Eibar: This one will stand and Benzema has finally restored parity for Real Madrid! Asensio dug out the cross from the right side and the French striker got on the end of the delivery to head home into the back of the net from about seven or eight yards out!

82’ GOAL! Real Madrid 2-1 Eibar: Real Madrid have turned things around and it's that man again! Asensio and Kroos worked a short corner over on the right side and Benzema jumped highest to head home! It's two headers from the Frenchman! He has dragged his team out of trouble!

88’ Benzema denied the hat trick! That perhaps should have been three for the Real Madrid striker! Vazquez played the low pass into Benzema, but Dmitrovic came off his line to smother the shot!

93’ Off the post! Benzema really could have scored five today! This time he guides a right-footed shot towards the Eibar goal, but his strike comes back off the base of the post! Sooooo close.

Real Madrid have conceded more goals than any other side in La Liga this season - 62.

Real Madrid have scored just one first half goal in their last six games at the Santiago Bernabeu (in all competitions).

Karim Benzema has scored 17 La Liga goals this season - at least twice as many as any other Real Madrid player.