MY ACCOUNT
Rodrygo considers Karim Benzema “impossible to replace”, but the Brazilian is nevertheless giving his all to fill in for the injured Real Madrid striker.
Madrid’s opener came from Rodrygo in their 2-1 derby triumph at Atletico Madrid on Sunday, as Carlo Ancelotti’s side kept up their 100 per cent record in LaLiga to top the table heading into the international break.
The Brazil international combined excellently with Aurelien Tchouameni to slot home in the 18th minute, before Federico Valverde made it 2-0 prior to the break.
Atleti fought back through Mario Hermoso’s late goal, but it was not enough to inspire a full comeback – with the hosts’ scorer subsequently sent off after picking up two bookings in as many minutes.
While captain Benzema is set to return after the international break, Ancelotti has been able to rely on Rodrygo to lead Madrid’s line in the France frontman’s absence, with the 21-year-old contributing to five goals in his last four LaLiga appearances.
Asked in a post-match interview with Movistar+ how difficult it was to replace Benzema, Rodrygo said: “I’ve always had confidence, but last season I scored more goals at the end [of the campaign] and now I have scored them at the beginning as well.
“I’m coming off a very good season and I want to continue like this, because I [can get] even better.
“It’s impossible to replace Benzema, but I try and I think I’m doing well. I have to say that I do things differently to him, we have changed the style of play.”
Defender Dani Carvajal, meanwhile, said Rodrygo had given Madrid “wings in attack”, even if Benzema was “fundamental” to Los Blancos.
Madrid have won all nine of their matches this season in all competitions, and they are the only side in Europe’s top five leagues with a perfect record.
It marks the third time Madrid have won their first nine games in a single campaign after 1961-62 and 1968-69, when they won their opening 11 games in both campaigns.
“We are very happy. We started the season at 100 per cent, winning everything,” Rodrygo said. “We are going into the break wanting to rest, play with our national teams and come back better.”
Rodrygo celebrated his opener with compatriot Vinicius Junior, who in the wake of being crudely told to “stop playing the monkey” by a football agent in midweek, was the target of racist chanting from some Atleti supporters outside the Civitas Metropolitano prior to kick-off.
“It’s a pleasure to play with him, something very special, without a doubt,” said Rodrygo of his team-mate, who played a key role in Valverde’s goal, hitting the post after a brilliant run, which enabled the midfielder to tuck home on the rebound.
The match was not without its contentious moments, with Hermoso’s second yellow particularly harsh. Having previously been booked for dissent, the centre-back was adjudged to have lashed out at Dani Ceballos, though replays showed it was a questionable decision.
“Very bad taste, we have lost a very important match. We have not been so bad, we have not deserved the defeat, but it is football,” Atleti goalkeeper Jan Oblak told Movistar+.
On Hermoso’s red card, Oblak said: “I’ve seen the video. The referee was very close and I don’t know what he saw, but it’s his decision and on video it’s easier than [live], it’s true.
“It didn’t have to be yellow, there were still three minutes left and we could have taken advantage.”
