Benzema nets twice as Real keep pressure on Atletico

Real Madrid enjoyed temporary respite from their European Super League humiliaton by thrashing Cadiz 3-0 on Wednesday to keep the pressure on Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga.

Three goals in 10 minutes towards the end of the first half helped Madrid go top of the table on head-to-head, above Atletico Madrid, who play at home to Huesca on Thursday.

Karim Benzema scored twice and set up another for Alvaro Odriozola to head in at the Ramon de Carranza stadium, where any suggestion Madrid’s players might be destabilised after a hugely controversial few days was dismissed.

Madrid president Florentino Perez was the only owner from the European Super League’s 12 founding clubs to speak publicly about the competition following its remarkable launch on Sunday night.

And despite 10 of the 12 pulling out in the face of anger and opposition from all sides of the game, Real Madrid was still officially part of the breakaway tournament when the players kicked off on Wednesday night.

La Liga sought to capitalise on the momentum towards reform, with the slogan ‘Earn it! On the pitch’ projected for television viewers across the stand where the virtual fans would usually be.

Cadiz players wore t-shirts in the warm-up that read ‘Super League? Football is for everyone’.

In Italy, Inter Milan edged closer to their first Serie A title since 2010 with a 1-1 draw at Spezia. That took them ten points clear at the top. Earlier, AC Milan’s hopes of catching their rivals were dented by a 2-1 home defeat to Sassuolo.

The two Milan teams, along with Atletico Madrid, are the latest to pull out of the proposed Super League.

Juventus boosted their hopes of a top four finish in the Serie A with a come-from-behind 3-1 win over Parma. (AFP)