Benitez bemused

MADRID. — Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez was at a loss to explain his side’s terrible first-half performance after they slipped to a third defeat in five league games at Villarreal on Sunday. Madrid now trail leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid by five points after failing to respond to Roberto Soldado’s eighth minute winner against his old side. After being outplayed before the break, Benitez’s men looked like a different side after half-time as they carved out a series of chances to turn the game on its head. However, days after being indefinitely banned from representing France for his part in an alleged blackmail bid on international teammate Mathieu Valbuena, Karim Benzema wasted a hat-trick of glorious chances, whilst Cristiano Ronaldo was largely anonymous as the pressure mounted on Benitez. — AFP.