MADRID // Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez says his side can still have a successful season if Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale can remain fit and on form.
Madrid suffered the latest embarrassment of a disappointing campaign so far by being dumped out of the Copa del Rey in midweek for fielding an ineligible team by naming a suspended player in Denis Cheryshev away to Cadiz on Wednesday.
However, Benitez’s men bounced back from that blow to smash four goals past Getafe in the first 38 minutes to seal a 4-1 win and keep up pressure on league leaders Barcelona.
Benzema scored his first two goals since becoming embroiled in a sex-tape blackmail scandal in his native France in a case involving international teammate Mathieu Valbuena.
And Bale and Ronaldo also got on the scoresheet as Madrid’s star front-three scored in the same game for the first time this season.
“To get the three points playing very well in the first half means that these players, who we know are very important, once they get up to speed can cause a lot of damage to any defence,” Benitez said. “The fact the three attackers all scored and collaborated a lot with the team in defence and attack I think means all three should be satisfied.
“It is important that they play well, score goals and that will be the key to maintaining their confidence.”
Both Benzema and Bale have missed large parts of the season through injury as they partnered Ronaldo up front in the league for just the fourth time this season.
Benzema’s problems off the field have also mounted in the time he has been sidelined by a hamstring injury as he spent a night in custody last month and was charged with complicity to blackmail and conspiring to commit a criminal act in the case involving Valbuena.
However, while many in France, including prime minister Manuel Valls have questioned whether Benzema should return to the national team, Madrid and Benitez have offered the former Lyon striker their support.
And Benitez says focusing on his football can help Benzema deal with his off-field problems.
“The fact Benzema scored those two goals and contributed so much to the team going forward reinforces what I have said that he is a very important player for us and makes those around him play better,” Benitez added.
“We spoke this week and he was desperate to play and score goals. He needs to play well on the field because that will help him confront any problem.”
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Bio
Born in Dubai in 1994
Her father is a retired Emirati police officer and her mother is originally from Kuwait
She Graduated from the American University of Sharjah in 2015 and is currently working on her Masters in Communication from the University of Sharjah.
Her favourite film is Pacific Rim, directed by Guillermo del Toro
What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
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If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
Heavily-sugared soft drinks slip through the tax net
Some popular drinks with high levels of sugar and caffeine have slipped through the fizz drink tax loophole, as they are not carbonated or classed as an energy drink.
Arizona Iced Tea with lemon is one of those beverages, with one 240 millilitre serving offering up 23 grams of sugar - about six teaspoons.
A 680ml can of Arizona Iced Tea costs just Dh6.
Most sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, five teaspoons of sugar in a 500ml bottle.
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
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RESULTS
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000, 2,400m
Winner: Recordman, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer)
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000, 2,200m
Winner: AF Taraha, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000, 1,400m
Winner: Dhafra, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000, 1,400m
Winner: Maqam, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000, 1,600m
Winner: AF Momtaz, Fernando Jara, Musabah Al Muhairi
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000, 1,600m
Winner: Optimizm, Patrick Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi
Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
}Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
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BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
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