Carlo Ancelotti praises Real Madrid 'intensity' after comeback win against Sevilla

Karim Benzema winner claims all three-points in pulsating match to take Real 15 points clear at the top of La Liga

Real Madrid players pile on goalscorer Karim Benzema after the Frenchman scored a 92nd-minute winner against Sevilla at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on April 17, 2022 in Seville, Spain. Getty Images

Karim Benzema of Real Madrid scores his team's third goal in a 3-2 win over Sevilla. Getty Images

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, top, heads the ball. AP Photo

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema scores their third goal. Reuters

Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema celebrates with Real Madrid's Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti at the end of the match against Sevilla. AFP

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema celebrates scoring their third goal against Sevilla. Real had trailed 2-0 at half time. Reuters

Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema vies with Sevilla's Brazilian defender Diego Carlos. AFP

Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema celebrates after Real Madrid's Spanish defender Nacho Fernandez scored a goal during the Spanish League football match between Sevilla FC and Real Madrid CF at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville on April 17, 2022. (Photo by CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP)

Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema. AFP

Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema gestures during the Spanish La Liga match against Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. AFP

SEVILLE, SPAIN - APRIL 17: Eder Militao of Real Madrid and Nacho, left, of Real Madrid celebrate after Nacho's goal made it 2-2 against Sevilla. Getty Images

Nacho of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring his team's second goal. Getty Images

Real Madrid's Nacho celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates. Reuters

Rodrygo of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring his team's first goal to make it 2-1 to Sevilla. Getty Images

Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Rodrygo vies with Sevilla's Swedish defender Ludwig Augustinsson. AFP

Karim Benzema capped another thrilling Real Madrid comeback on Sunday as the Spanish league leaders came back from two goals down to defeat Sevilla 3-2.

The come-from-behind win in La Liga came just days after Real pulled off an epic comeback against Chelsea in the Champions League where Benzema's extra-time strike clinch a place in the semi-finals 5-4 on aggregate.

Defeat would have given fresh hope to the chasing pack, with Sevilla and Barcelona both beginning the day 12 points behind, Barca with two games in hand.

Instead, goals in the second half from Rodrygo, Nacho and Benzema in the 92nd minute mean Madrid extend their advantage to 15 points with six games left to play in La Liga.

"It's difficult to understand why we played like that in the first half and to be honest how we played as well as that in the second," said Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti.

"In the first half we looked tired. In the second, the intensity was spectacular."

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An Ivan Rakitic free-kick and Erik Lamela's smart finish had put Sevilla two up at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Rakitic gave Sevilla the lead in the 25th minute, curling a free-kick into the corner after Luka Modric had brought down Papu Gomez.

Lamela doubled the advantage four minutes later, slotting after Tecatito drew out Thibaut Courtois and left the net open.

But a superb Vinicius Jr backheel for Dani Carvajal allowed Rodrygo to pull a goal back in the 50th minute.

Vinicius thought he had made it 2-2 in the 74th minute, only for the goal to be ruled out, the referee deciding the Brazilian had controlled with his arm and not his chest.

Madrid though were undeterred as Rakitic headed away a corner, only for Carvajal to drive to the line and pull back for Nacho to finish.

And then in the 92nd minute, Benzema completed another remarkable revival, collecting Rodrygo's pass, controlling and firing past three Sevilla defenders on the line.

Frenchman Benzema now has 44 goals in 46 appearances this season and 15 in his last 10.