Karim Benzema Give Real Derby Spoils

Karim Benzema Real Madrid

In-form striker Karim Benzema was again on the mark to help Real Madrid continue their long-standing domination of city rivals Atletico Madrid with a 2-1 victory and keep the pressure on Primera Division pacesetters Barcelona.

Benzema struck his tenth goal in his last eight appearances to put Real ahead early on and Mesut Ozil added a second before the break to leave the visitors, who have not lost to Atletico home or away since 1999, in control.

Sergio Aguero pulled a goal back for Atletico in the 86th minute to give the hosts hope but it was not enough to deny Jose Mourinho's men, who cut Barcelona's lead back to five points after the Catalan club had beaten Getafe earlier in the evening.

Karim Benzema France

Atletico, meanwhile, missed the chance to provisionally move level with sixth-placed Athletic Bilbao after seeing their five-match unbeaten run come to an end. Real have made a habit of scoring early goals in this fixture in recent years and they enjoyed another barnstorming start.

It took them just 46 seconds to create their first opening, Benzema slicing a shot wide, and then Cristiano Ronaldo and Sami Khedira drew saves out of David De Gea. Lassana Diarra then inexplicably opted to cut the ball back with just De Gea to beat.

Aguero was booked soon after for diving in the area, and Ronaldo twice went close to adding a third for Real before the break as the visitors turned the screw. It was looking bleak for Atletico at half-time, but they refused to go down without a fight and were well on top at the start of the second half.

Diego Forlan fired into the side-netting with an effort that had some home fans celebrating, before a Mario Suarez thunderbolt brought another save out of Casillas.

Aguero then had Atletico's clearest chance of the night up to that point when he was put through by Reyes in the 54th minute, but Casillas produced another superb save to deny the Argentina international.

As in the first half though, Atletico could find no way through and Real were increasingly looking dangerous on the counter attack with Ozil and Ronaldo missing chances.

With time running out, Atletico finally managed to pull a goal back when Aguero fired a low shot past Casillas, but Quique Sanchez Flores' men could not find an equaliser as they slumped to their fourth competitive defeat to Real this season.