SPORT / MISCELLANY
Real Madrid fight back again
Atletico scrape past Espanyol
Published: Apr 18, 2022 05:43 PM
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema (top) heads the ball during the match against Sevilla in Seville, Spain on April 17, 2022. Photo: VCG

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema (top) heads the ball during the match against Sevilla in Seville, Spain on April 17, 2022. Photo: VCG

Karim Benzema completed another incredible Real Madrid comeback on Sunday as they fought from two goals down to defeat Sevilla 3-2 in La Liga.

After trailing Chelsea 3-0 on Tuesday only to ­secure their place in the European Champions League semifinals, Madrid stunned Sevilla to seal the victory that has surely won them La Liga.

Defeat would have given fresh hope to the chasing pack, with Sevilla and Barcelona both ­beginning the day 12 points ­behind, Barca with two games in hand.

Instead, goals in the second half from Rodrygo, Nacho Fernandez and Benzema in the 92nd minute mean Madrid extend their advantage in the league to 15 points with six games left to play.

An Ivan Rakitic free kick and Erik Lamela's smart finish had put Sevilla two up at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

"Everyone is waiting for Real ­Madrid to stumble, but Real Madrid don't stumble because we have heart and character. LaLiga is not finished, but we have taken a big step," said Carlo Ancelotti.

"It's difficult to understand why we played like that in the first half and to be honest how we played as well as that in the second," he added.

"In the first half we looked tired. In the ­second, the intensity was spectacular."

Benzema's goal finished Chelsea off on Tuesday after Rodrygo had forced extra time at the Santiago Bernabeu and those two, along with Vinicius Junior, were crucial again.

Benzema now has 44 goals in 46 appearances this season and 15 in his last 10.

Rakitic gave Sevilla the lead in the 25th minute, curling a free kick into the corner after Luka Modric had brought down Papu Gomez.

Lamela doubled the advantage four ­minutes later, slotting after Tecatito drew out Thibaut Courtois and left the net open.

But a superb Vinicius backheel for Dani Carvajal allowed Rodrygo to pull a goal back in the 50th minute.

Vinicius thought he had made it 2-2 in the 74th minute, only for the goal to be ruled out, the referee deciding the Brazilian had controlled with his arm and not his chest.

Real Madrid though were undeterred as Rakitic headed away a corner, only for Carvajal to drive to the line and pull back for Nacho to finish.

And then in the 92nd minute, Benzema completed another ­remarkable revival, collecting ­Rodrygo's pass, controlling and firing past three Sevilla defenders on the line.

"The players didn't lose their heads after two mistakes and they are responsible for this incredible come from behind win," added a relieved Ancelotti.

"This team doesn't surprise me but what happened in the second half leaves me very proud. I want to thank all the players."

Last-gasp Carrasco

Ten-man Atletico Madrid left it late too as Yannick Carrasco scored the winning penalty with the last kick of the game for a 2-1 win over RCD Espanyol.

Atletico looked set to drop another two points at the Wanda Metropolitano when Geoffrey Kondogbia was sent off in the second half and then three minutes later Raul de Tomas canceled out Carrasco's opener, his free kick squirming through the fingers of Jan Oblak.

Atletico Madrid's Yannick Carrasco celebrates scoring against Espanyol in Madrid, Spain on April 17, 2022. Photo: VCG

Atletico Madrid's Yannick Carrasco celebrates scoring against Espanyol in Madrid, Spain on April 17, 2022. Photo: VCG

But De Tomas handballed deep into added time, the referee awarding the spot kick after a long consultation with VAR, before Carrasco held his nerve. The ball hit the net with the clock approaching 100 minutes.

"It was an important game for us and when you score with the last kick of the game it feels even more important to achieve our goal this season," Carrasco said.

Atletico stay three points clear of Real Betis in fifth and level on points with third-placed Sevilla.

After losing away at Mallorca last weekend and then being knocked out of the Champions League by Manchester City in midweek, Diego Simeone's side could ill-afford another dent to their morale.

The significance of the win was demonstrated by the Argentinian celebrating Carrasco's winning penalty by sprinting down the touchline, before joining his relieved players in the corner.

Atletico cut Espanyol open in the 52nd minute as Matheus Cunha, on at halftime, slipped in Carrasco, who turned inside and drove through Diego Lopez at the near post.

But the game turned in Espanyol's favor in the 71st minute when Kondogbia was shown a second yellow card for blocking Sergi Darder's shot with his hand and then from the resulting free kick, De Tomas equalized. 

The usually reliable Oblak was at fault as the goalkeeper fumbled a simple save, the ball hitting the post and dribbling in.

With a man extra, Espanyol wanted a winner but Atletico found a way back. 

In the 95th minute, De Tomas went to clear Antoine Griezmann's flicked header but got his angles wrong and instead the ball caught his elbow. 

In the 100th minute, Carrasco made no mistake.