Karim Benzema magic sends Real top of La Liga

Football - La Liga Santander - Cadiz v Real Madrid - Estadio Ramon de Carranza, Cadiz, Spain - April 21, 2021. Real Madrid's Karim Benzema shoots at goal from a free kick. [REUTERS/Jon Nazca]

A first-half double from Karim Benzema helped Real Madrid cruise to a 3-0 victory away to Cadiz on Wednesday that moved them top of La Liga.

The Frenchman's brace came either side of a maiden senior league goal for defender Alvaro Odriozola, as Real moved onto 70 points, level with city rivals Atletico Madrid, who have a game in hand, but top due to their better head-to-head record.

The home side, who were looking to complete an unlikely league double over Madrid, started brightly, with Jens Jonsson firing narrowly wide, however that was as good as it got as Real's class told.

Benzema netted his first from the penalty spot on the half hour following a VAR intervention, which spotted an Isaac Carcelen foul on Vinicius that referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz had missed.

The striker's goal took him level with club great Raul Gonzalez as having scored against 35 different opponents in La Liga.

He turned provider three minutes later when he crossed for Odriozola.

Casemiro should have made it three moments later when he fired over from close range, however five minutes before the break he crossed for Benzema, who completed his double to seal the points for Zinedine Zidane's side.