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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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Greenwood Scores and Assists as Marseille Wins at Rennes to Close Gap on Leader PSG

Marseille's Mason Greenwood runs with the ball during the French League One soccer match between Rennes and Marseille in Rennes, France, Saturday Jan. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Mathieu Pattier)
Marseille's Mason Greenwood runs with the ball during the French League One soccer match between Rennes and Marseille in Rennes, France, Saturday Jan. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Mathieu Pattier)
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Greenwood Scores and Assists as Marseille Wins at Rennes to Close Gap on Leader PSG

Marseille's Mason Greenwood runs with the ball during the French League One soccer match between Rennes and Marseille in Rennes, France, Saturday Jan. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Mathieu Pattier)
Marseille's Mason Greenwood runs with the ball during the French League One soccer match between Rennes and Marseille in Rennes, France, Saturday Jan. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Mathieu Pattier)

Mason Greenwood scored and set up a goal for Adrien Rabiot as Marseille won at Rennes 2-1 to move four points behind Ligue 1 leader Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday.
A fourth win in five league games also moved second-placed Marseille five points ahead of third-placed Monaco after 17 rounds.
But PSG can restore its seven-point lead if it beats struggling Saint-Etienne at home on Sunday.
Greenwood's 11th league goal came moments before halftime and he then curled a cross onto the head of Rabiot early into the second half.
The first half was even.
Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli made a superb save from Arnaud Kalimuendo's penalty in the 32nd minute.
The penalty was given following a video review and seemed harsh on defender Amir Murillo. He was judged to have handled the ball, even though he was unsighted when it fell onto his arm when contesting an aerial challenge.
Rulli saved his third spot kick of the season as he dived to his right at full stretch and tipped the ball onto the post.
Kalimuendo made up for it in the 43rd when he swept in a cross from right back Lorenz Assignon.
But Marseille is proving hard to beat under coach Roberto De Zerbi and hit straight back when Greenwood converted Panama international Murillo's right-wing cross.
Then, in the 49th, Greenwood broke down the right and Rabiot headed his pinpoint cross past his France teammate Brice Samba, who started in the Rennes goal after joining from Lens.
Meanwhile, Gaëtan Laborde scored twice to help Nice win at Reims 4-2 and move up to fourth place.
The burly striker netted with a penalty just before halftime and added his second goal midway through the second half.
Nice moved one point ahead of fifth-placed Lille and two clear of sixth-placed Lyon, which lost to Brest 2-1.
Nice's other goals came from forward Evann Guessand and defender Ali Abdi, while Japan winger Junya Ito and 19-year-old striker Mamadou Diakhon scored for Reims.
Earlier, Lyon found itself 2-0 down at Brest inside 25 minutes.
Mahdi Camara put the home side ahead early and set up striker Ludovic Ajorque with a neat backheel.
Midfielder Jordan Veretout pulled a goal back for Lyon in first-half stoppage time and teammate Corentin Tolisso had an equalizer ruled out moments later for offside.