Football: Real Madrid almost undone by bottom side

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema applauds the fans at the end of a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Huesca. Photo / AP

Zinedine Zidane held a second audition for the Real Madrid team of the future yesterday, when Karim Benzema showed why he has always been one of his manager's favourite players.

Benzema played a part in two goals before coming through with one of his own in the 89th minute as Madrid grabbed a 3-2 victory and avoided an embarrassing stumble against last-placed Huesca.

But Zidane likely was left with as many questions as answers regarding which players deserve to continue at the club after an expected off-season cull.

Huesca, a tiny club with a tiny budget playing in their first season in the top Spanish league, took the match right to Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

They out-hustled their star counterparts and were on course for at least a point when Benzema showed his class with a curling shot from the corner of the area.

"It was a crazy game," Zidane said. "It is true we suffered a lot but we have to congratulate our rivals. They may be in last place but they played a great game and caused us trouble throughout."

Zidane returned nearly three weeks ago to a Madrid that have nothing to play for after being eliminated from the Champions League and Copa del Rey, and trail league leaders Barcelona by 12 points.

So all the talk surrounding the club is about which faces will be on the squad for next season.

In his first game back, Zidane started his "old guard" of veterans who had featured in Madrid's run of three consecutive European Cups. They had done enough to get a 2-0 win over struggling Celta Vigo before the international break last week.

For his second match yesterday, Zidane started several players who are usually watching Madrid from the bench.

Zidane left Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modric, defender Raphael Varane and midfielders Toni Kroos and Marco Asensio off his squad.

With goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois recovering from tendinitis in his right leg, Zidane also kept Keylor Navas on the bench in favour of the coach's 20-year-old son, Luca Zidane.

It was Luca's second appearance in the league, following his debut last season.

Nineteen-year-old Brahim Diaz got his first start since transferring from Manchester City this winter. Previously, he had played a total of 24 minutes for Madrid.

"We needed a victory for our morale," Zidane said. "We are coming off a pretty complicated season and we are going to focus on the result and the good spells we had in the match but we also had our difficulties."

Huesca were left seven points from safety.

Valencia leapt ahead of Sevilla and into sixth place and the Europa League positions after earning a 1-0 win in Seville.

Dani Parejo converted a penalty in first-half injury time after Sevilla's Ever Banega knocked down Jose Gaya.

Sevilla have lost seven of their last 11 league games and are in danger of not playing in Europe next season.

Mikel Oyarzabal scored with a well-placed header to earn Real Sociedad a 1-1 draw at Valladolid.

Cristian Tello's goal salvaged Real Betis a 1-1 draw at relegation-threatened Rayo Vallecano and Eibar drew 2-2 at Levante.

- AP