Karim Benzema scored a second-half header to hand Real Madrid all three points in a hard-fought LaLiga game away to Sevilla on Sunday night and ease the pressure on under-fire coach Zinedine Zidane.
Los Blancos came into this match unbeaten in La Liga this season, but the French coach has faced severe scrutiny since his side’s disastrous 3-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Up against a Sevilla side which had led La Liga before this weekend’s fixtures and is coached by former Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui, Real worked hard in an intense battle.
The first half saw numerous corners in an end-to-end encounter, but few clear chances.
Madrid had probably the two best ones as Eden Hazard saw a shot pushed wide by Tomas Vaclik at the Sevilla goalkeeper’s near post and Dani Carvajal, clean through after a superb defence-splitting pass from James Rodriguez, was denied by the Czech’s right foot as he hit a low drive towards the far corner.
Carvajal would then turn provider in the second half, getting to the byline on the right and sending over a pinpoint cross for Benzema to head home from close range after 64 minutes.
Luuk de Jong wasted a free header at the other end as he glanced well wide after that, while substitute Javier Hernandez poked home from close range late in the game but saw his effort correctly ruled out for offside.
Gareth Bale hit the side netting from a tight angle as Madrid looked to seal it in added time, but Zidane's side held on for a win which sees them move up to second, level with leaders Athletic Club.
Sevilla’s first defeat of the season sees the Andalusians drop to fifth, but Lopetegui’s side are only one point off the top after five rounds of matches.
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