Madrid (AFP)

The French-speaking duo of Real understands well: the Belgian Eden Hazard and the French Karim Benzema, aligned in attack, allowed Real Madrid to defeat Valencia 3-0 for the 29th day of Liga Thursday, and return to Barça on your mind.

They speak the same language: the two attackers Eden Hazard and Karim Benzema had let leak a taste of what their tandem can offer Sunday evening, for the big comeback of Real La Liga against Eibar (3-1).

They combined again wonderfully on the goal of the French center-center which allowed Real to give the response to Barça in the title race, this Thursday in a Di Stefano stadium behind closed doors.

The other great story of the match was Real Madrid's second goal for Marco Asensio: stayed 330 days off the pitch due to a cruciate ligament rupture, the striker took only 33 seconds of play to crown his return with a goal, taking a center from Ferland Mendy (74th) just before a red card for Lee Kangin Valencian side (90th).

Asensio even served Benzema for the third goal of Real's beautiful evening: a jewel (87th), a volley left foot halfway between the cold realism of N.9 and the artistic side of the best French center-forward.

After Gareth Bale's "BBC", Karim Benzema, and Cristiano Ronaldo, did Zinedine Zidane succeed in forging a new connection to the "White House" between the two French-speaking attackers?

Friends outside the field, Benzema and Hazard built their relationship on the field once again on Thursday evening.

In the 61st, after a loss of ball from the French striker from Valence, Kevin Gameiro, on the halfway line, Hazard made a one-two with Luka Modric, then served Benzema in the area, who was only 'to deceive Jasper Cillessen.

- Benzema, history -

Benzema, the author of an excellent start to the season in Madrid, continued this momentum after the pandemic: on Thursday, he spent his eighth season in a row at 20 goals or more at Real.

And Hazard, victim of a first season plagued by injuries in Spain, came back after the pandemic, reassuring all Madrid fans about his talent and his state of form.

This is excellent news for Madrid technician Zinedine Zidane, who had aligned almost his best eleven possible on Thursday but whose team struggled to find the key to break the Valencian lock.

Previously, the Merengues were even scared against the 8th of the Spanish championship, on this cross shot by Rodrigo diverted from the tip of the glove by Thibaut Courtois (14th), or on this goal of the Spanish international canceled with help VAR for an offside position (21st), or on this big shot from Geoffrey Kondogbia, pushed away by Courtois (43rd).

This net result allows Real Madrid to return to the top of the ranking, two points from Barça (64 pts) who moves Friday evening (20:00 GMT) in the third in the championship, Sevilla FC.

Valencia held up well for an hour against Real, but therefore remains in 8th place in the ranking, still within reach of the qualifying places for the Europa League.

Full results of the 29th day:

Monday

Levante - Seville 1 - 1

Betis Seville - Granada 2 - 2

Tuesday

Villarreal - Mallorca 1 - 0

Getafe - Espanyol Barcelona 0 - 0

Barcelona - Leganés 2 - 0

Wednesday

Valladolid - Celta Vigo 0 - 0

Eibar - Athletic Bilbao 2 - 2

Osasuna - Atlético Madrid 0 - 5

Thursday

Alavés - Real Sociedad 2 - 0

Real Madrid - Valencia CF 3 - 0

© 2020 AFP