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Madrid up to 2nd with Benzema Brace in 3-1 Win at Celta

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the La Liga match against Celta Vigo at the Balaidos stadium in Vigo, Spain, March 20, 2021. (AP)
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the La Liga match against Celta Vigo at the Balaidos stadium in Vigo, Spain, March 20, 2021. (AP)
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Madrid up to 2nd with Benzema Brace in 3-1 Win at Celta

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the La Liga match against Celta Vigo at the Balaidos stadium in Vigo, Spain, March 20, 2021. (AP)
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the La Liga match against Celta Vigo at the Balaidos stadium in Vigo, Spain, March 20, 2021. (AP)

Karim Benzema netted twice to extend his scoring streak as Real Madrid moved second in the Spanish league with a 3-1 win over Celta Vigo on Saturday.

Toni Kroos set up Benzema for both his early goals at Balaídos Stadium.

Kroos slipped a short pass through two defenders to leave Benzema alone to beat goalkeeper Iván Villar in the 20th. The Germany midfielder gave his French striker a second opportunity on the half-hour mark when he stole the ball from Renato Tapia near Celta’s goal.

Celta improved after its shaky start. Striker Santi Mina pulled one back with a header five minutes before halftime. Iago Aspas drew a save from Thibaut Courtois in the 62nd and the striker’s free kick hit the post with eight minutes to play.

Benzema crossed for Marco Asensio to complete the win on the last kick of the match.

Benzema has scored eight goals in a six-match scoring run over all competitions. He scored in Madrid’s 3-1 win over Atalanta on Tuesday to help lead Madrid into the Champions League quarterfinals. He got another brace last weekend to lead a 2-1 comeback victory over Elche.

Madrid moved one point above Barcelona before it plays at Real Sociedad on Sunday.

Leader Atlético Madrid is three points ahead of Madrid before hosting Alavés on Sunday.

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Sabalenka Beats Stephens to Begin Bid for 3rd Australian Open Title

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus (L) shakes hands at the net with Sloane Stephens of USA after winning the Women's Singles first round match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 12 January 2025. EPA/LUKAS COCH
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus (L) shakes hands at the net with Sloane Stephens of USA after winning the Women's Singles first round match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 12 January 2025. EPA/LUKAS COCH
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Sabalenka Beats Stephens to Begin Bid for 3rd Australian Open Title

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus (L) shakes hands at the net with Sloane Stephens of USA after winning the Women's Singles first round match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 12 January 2025. EPA/LUKAS COCH
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus (L) shakes hands at the net with Sloane Stephens of USA after winning the Women's Singles first round match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 12 January 2025. EPA/LUKAS COCH

Aryna Sabalenka began her bid to become the first woman in a quarter-century to win three consecutive Australian Open titles, eliminating 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-2 on Sunday night in just 71 minutes.

Sabalenka is seeded No. 1 at a Grand Slam tournament for the first time and while she was not perfect in this first-round match — “Not like I played my best, probably,” she said — it was plenty good, The Associated Press reported.

As big a server as there is in women's tennis, Sabalenka did not hit her first ace until the match's 15th game and finished with only two.

She won her first major championship at Melbourne Park in 2023, then added another last January, before raising her total to three Slam trophies at the US Open in September.

The last woman to win the Australian Open three years in a row was Martina Hingis from 1997 to 1999.

“I am super happy to be back,” Sabalenka said. “I love this place.”
In the second round, Sabalenka will take on Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, who upset reigning champion Marketa Vondrousova at Wimbledon in 2024.