Alate strike from Karim Benzema helped Real Madrid slip past a pesky Huesca side 3-2 on Sunday night at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid.
The visitors from Aragon certainly made Los Blancos work for the three points. Cucho Hernandez gave Huesca an early lead, only for Real to answer through Isco and Dani Ceballos. But some poor finishing opened the door for Huesca, who took full advantage and pulled level through Etxeita, only for the veteran French striker to decide it late with a wonderfully hit right-footed shot.
Recently returned manager Zinedine Zidane certainly raised a few eyebrows when his starting XI was revealed, as son Luca Zidane was picked to start in net, while the barely-used Brahim also go the nod in attack along with Gareth Bale and Benzema. After being left for dead in the Santiago Solari era, Isco was back in the fold making his second start under Zidane.
Just like they did at the Camp Nou back at the beginning of the season when they struck for an early goal, Huesca achieved the same feat on Sunday as Cucho Hernandez scored not even three minutes into the contest. Chimy Avila did very well to take the ball away from Nacho and picked out the Colombian, who finished with aplomb past Luca for a 0-1 lead.
Real looked to respond and Brahim was in the middle of Los Blancos pulling level midway through the half. It started with Benzema muscling off a Huesca defender before playing a slick one-two combination with Brahim that ended with Huesca goalkeeper Santamaria blocking a Benzema shot. Brahim swooped in on the rebound and crossed in front of goal where at the back post Isco was there to meet it to make it 1-1.
Huesca refused to get down and kept going at Real in hopes of restoring their lead. Chimy Avila should have done just that moments before half-time, but instead skied an effort when he was left unmarked in the Real area.
Real were struggling in attack but continued to plug away and would get rewarded for their effort shortly after the hour mark when Benzema popped a header across goal and Dani Ceballos was there to meet at the other post to hand the hosts a 2-1 advantage.
Bale was not having a very good day and it got worse for the Welshman when he failed to convert from just three metres out after a fine cross from the right from Alvaro Odriozola.
Real would rue the Bale miss, as minutes later the relegation-threatened visitors levelled when Etxeita found a way through a sea of Real defenders and headed in a short corner kick from the left flank to make it 2-2.
Zidane countered by bringing on Fede Valverde and Mariano for Isco and Marcos Llorente, respectively, but it was Huesca with all the momentum and the Aragonian outfit were coming with everything in hopes of getting a precious three points.
But even in a season in which they will finish trophy-less, Real still have the quality to put most La Liga sides to the sword and Huesca found out the hard way when Marcelo played a quick pass to Benzema, who moved to his right and curled in a stinging right-footer just minutes from full-time to give Real the 3-2 final.
Match Sheet:
3.- Real Madrid: Luca; Odriozola, Ramos, Nacho, Marcelo; Marcos Llorente (Mariano, min. 79), Ceballos, Isco (Fede Valverde, min. 76); Brahim (Lucas Vazquez, min. 64), Bale, Benzema.
2.- Huesca: Santamaria; Herrera, Etxeita, Mantovani, Pulido, Javi Galan; Musto, Moi Gomez, Rivera (Juanpi, min. 78); Chimy Avila (Gallego, min. 64), Cucho Hernandez (Gallar, min. 83).
Goals: 0-1, min. 3: Cucho Hernandez; 1-1, min. 25: Isco; 2-1, min. 62: Dani Ceballos; 2-2, min. 74: Etxeita; 3-2, min. 89: Benzema.
Referee: Estrada Fernandez (Catalonian).
Yellow cards: Pulido (Min. 47) for Huesca, Musto (Min. 50) for Huesca, Nacho (Min. 66) for Real Madrid.
Red cards: None.
Stadium: Santiago Bernabeu.
Attendance: 49.269.
