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

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." 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.

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