MADRID (AFP) – Fede Valverde and Marco Asensio scored as Real Madrid struggled to beat Osasuna 2-0 in La Liga yesterday, just three days before they head to Liverpool in the Champions League.
Uruguay midfielder Valverde and Spain winger Asensio netted in the final quarter of an hour in Pamplona to cut Barcelona’s advantage to five points at the top of the table.
Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema was missing from Real’s matchday squad as coach Carlo Ancelotti rested the France attacker ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League last-16 first leg at Anfield.
“It was a hard-fought, close match, well played by both teams, and we are all the more satisfied to have won,” said Ancelotti.
“The boys suffered when they had to and knew how to wait for the moment to score.”
