Real Madrid Defeat Fenerbahce 5-3, Finish in 3rd Place at 2019 Audi Cup
Karim Benzema lifted Real Madrid to their first normal-time win of pre-season on Wednesday, scoring a hat-trick as they defeated Fenerbahce 5-3 to finish third at the 2019 Audi Cup.
Garry Rodrigues, Nabil Dirar and Ozan Tufan found goals to make things tricky for Los Blancos, but Benzema was well-placed to almost single-handedly turn the result in their favour.
He netted twice before the break and once in the second period to increase his pre-season goal tally to four.
Nacho Fernandez and substitute Mariano Diaz each scored to compound another disappointing defeat for Fenerbahce, who have now conceded 11 goals in their last two games.
Fenerbahce lost 6-1 against Bayern in their Audi Cup opener, but Real manager Zinedine Zidane was taking few chances and fielded a strong lineup missing only a handful of regular starters.
Luka Modric, Sergio Ramos and Dani Carvajal started on the bench, and Real looked to be missing the latter two at the back after they conceded just six minutes in.
Alvaro Odriozola has earned some calls to become Real's starting right-back, but he didn't aid his case when Rodrigues got the better of him down the flank before beating Keylor Navas at his far post.
The lead lasted only six minutes, though, as Vinicius Junior showed quick feet down the left before crossing in to Benzema. He steadied the ball inside the box before poking home the equaliser for his second goal in pre-season.
It didn't take long for the Frenchman to double his match tally, heading in from a pinpoint Toni Kroos free-kick after 27 minutes to see Real lead a game for the first time this pre-season.
The Spanish Football Podcast noted a change in the direction of the wind while highlighting this was a fixture Real should be dominating with much greater confidence.
Continuing their leaky theme in defence, Real conceded a second before the break. Having been at fault for Fener's first, it was Odriozola's deflection off Dirar's shot that lifted the ball up and over Navas.
No matter the deflection, the goal represented a much welcome boost for captain Dirar, who had a nightmarish display in the recent defeat to Bayern and was booed by his own fans, via Soccer AM.
Lucas Vazquez came on for Eden Hazard at the break and set Benzema up to complete his hat-trick after the restart, igniting a flurry of three goals in 15 minutes.
Dirar's defensive weakness was exploited as Lucas had space to cross in, with Benzema in plenty of room to head past Fener goalkeeper Altay Bayindir.
Zidane's substitutes continued to take effect, and Diaz helped force Real's fourth with one of his first touches. He saw his shot from the edge of the box saved by Bayindir, but centre-back Nacho reacted quickest and converted to push Real back in front 4-3.
Diaz looked desperate to score in his cameo and finally got his reward in the 80th minute, following up on a saved Vazquez shot to give Real their fifth and put the result beyond doubt.
Benzema's performance will encourage his manager after enjoying a productive 2018-19 campaign, while injured Luka Jovic won't fancy his chances of taking the striker spot with his team-mate in this form.
Real are still seeking their first clean sheet in pre-season, while Zidane will also hope major summer signing Hazard can have a greater impact in giving them a more positive end to their preparations.
Real Madrid have a week off before they face Red Bull Salzburg next Wednesday in their penultimate pre-season fixture, while Fenerbahce face Cagliari Tuesday in their last friendly of the summer.