Karim Benzema surpasses Raul Gonzalez Blanco as Real Madrid beats last-place Elche

Karim Benzema converted two first-half penalty kicks in Real Mrid's 4-0 win over Elche and became team's second-highest scorer in Spanish league with 230 goals.

Marco Asensio and Luka Modric also scored on Wednesday as Mrid won at home to get back within eight points of Barcelona in a game postponed because of Club World Cup.

Mrid won its eighth world club title last weekend in Morocco. Barcelona h increased its league le with a 1-0 win at Villarreal on Sunday.

35-year-old Benzema entered match even with Mrid great Raúl with 228 league goals — second to Cristia Ronaldo's 311.

“Benzema is much more than just a striker,” Mrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “He is a very complete player. He has a fantastic career and hopefully he will keep ding to it." It was Benzema's fifth goal in his last six matches. He h also scored in Club World Cup final against Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal after being out for a brief period because of an injury.

Club World Cup trophy was displayed to fans at Santiago Bernabéu Stium before Wednesday's match and Elche's players did guard of hor for Mrid's squ.

Mrid h won only one of its last three league matches and was coming off a loss at Mallorca before travelling to Morocco.

“We knew we h to win, it was important to keep pace with Barcelona,” Mrid midfielder Dani Ceballos said. “Eight points in t an insurmountable gap. This team will keep fighting until last match.” Mrid got win despite playing without several regular starters. Forward Vinícius Júnior was out because of a suspension on accumulation of yellow cards. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, midfielder Toni Kroos, forward Eden Hazard and defender Ferland Mendy were all out injured.

Asensio opened scoring in eighth minute before Benzema got his goals from penalty spot in 31st and in first minute of first-half stopp time. Modric closed scoring with a shot into top corner from inside area in 80th.

Last-place Elche arrived 12 points from safety but was boosted by its first league win of season against Villarreal on Saturday. It has nine points from 21 matches.

Mrid next visits ninth-place Osasuna on Saturday, while Elche hosts 17th-place Espanyol on Sunday.