English football champions Manchester City have dropped two points in their title fight with Liverpool. Coach Pep Guardiola’s side were held 0-0 at Crystal Palace on Monday and are just four points clear of their nearest rivals after the Reds won 2-0 at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
Liverpool with team manager Jürgen Klopp could move up to a point on the defending champion with another success on Wednesday (9:15 p.m. / Sky) at Arsenal. Two months ago, the lead was eleven points. City dominated at Selhurst Park for long stretches and also had the better chances to score. Joao Cancelo (27′) and Kevin De Bruyne (58′) were unlucky to hit the post. On April 10th there will be a showdown with Liverpool.
Goalscorer Benzema leaves Thierry Henry behind
Spanish football record champions Real Madrid are one step closer to winning their 35th championship title. The royals won 3-0 (0-0) with the German ex-national player Toni Kroos at the relegation candidates Real Mallorca and thus successfully maintained their sovereign lead in the table. Ten rounds before the end of the season, Real has a ten-point lead over pursuers Sevilla.
In goal mood: Karim Benzema.
(Photo: Francisco Ubilla/dpa)
Vinicius Junior (55th) and Champions League hero Karim Benzema with a brace (77th, penalty kick and 82nd) scored the goals for coach Carlo Ancelotti’s team. Benzema’s goals made him France’s top scorer. The centre-forward scored his 412th and 413th goals in a club or international game, beating Thierry Henry (411).
In Real Madrid shirt, Benzema increased his tally to 311 goals, having previously struck 66 for Olympique Lyon and 36 for France.