La Liga: Zidane hails Benzema as world's best after Bilbao treble

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Zinedine Zidane said Karim Benzema is the best number nine in the world after his hat-trick led Real Madrid to a 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

Benzema has been one of the few bright sparks in an otherwise dreary campaign for the European champions and his second-half treble at the Santiago Bernabeu took his tally to 30 goals for the season.

"What he has done here over 10 years means everything," the Real Madrid's current coach Zidane said. "For me, he is the best, but others might disagree."

Coach Zinedine Zidane celebrates a goal scored by his team Real Madrid during their La Liga match against Athletic Bilbao in Madrid, Spain, April 21, 2019. /VCG Photo

The victory moves Madrid four points behind second-placed Atletico and keeps them 13 adrift of Barcelona, while Bilbao stay seventh, with their chances dented of sealing a spot in the Europa League.

Benzema's advance in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo and surge since the reappointment of Zidane comes in stark contrast to Gareth Bale, who was whistled when introduced as a substitute and frequently during his 20 minutes on the pitch.

For all the impatience of the home crowd, it was Bale who won the corner for Benzema's second and then teed up his teammate's third in injury-time.

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema (R) and his teammate Marcelo celebrate his hat-trick during their La Liga match against Athletic Bilbao in Madrid, Spain, April 21, 2019. /VCG Photo

But his sixth season at Real Madrid will surely be his last, with Zidane saying little either to express support or suggest he wants the Welshman to stay beyond the summer.

"The shame was he had a chance to score and I felt sorry for him because I would have liked him to score today," Zidane said.

Bale and Benzema were left with the gargantuan task of filling the void left by Ronaldo's departure last summer and while Bale seems to have shriveled under the weight of expectation, Benzema has thrived.

Real Madrid's players pose for a group photo ahead of their La Liga match against Athletic Bilbao in Madrid, Spain, April 21, 2019. /VCG Photo

The 31-year-old has now claimed all of Madrid's last eight goals in La Liga, a run that includes five matches, while in his last seven games, he has scored 10.

Benzema said at the start of the season he wanted 35 in all competitions and, despite his opportunities being reduced by his team's early exit in the Champions League, he is now only five short with the same number of games left to play.

Source(s): AFP