Xabier Etxeita seemed to have earned Huesca a shock draw at Real Madrid, but Karim Benzema fired home to settle a five-goal thriller.
2018/2019 La Liga
3-2
Match Report
Karim Benzema scored in the 89th minute to earn Real Madrid a dramatic 3-2 win at home to LaLiga's bottom side Huesca in Zinedine Zidane's second match since his return.
With Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Raphael Varane, Marco Asensio, Vinicius Junior and Dani Carvajal all out, Luca Zidane started in goal and Brahim Diaz made his full league debut for Madrid.
Huesca took an early lead against the understrength side named by the senior Zidane, with Cucho Hernandez beating the coach's son, but Isco equalised before half-time.
Dani Ceballos put Madrid in front before captain Xabier Etxeita headed in the equaliser for Huesca, but a shock was averted as Benzema produced an excellent late strike to give Zinedine Zidane two wins from two.
Player Ratings
Match Events
3' GOAL! Real Madrid 0-1 Huesca (Hernandez)
Goal! Real Madrid 0, Huesca 1. Juan Camilo Hernández (Huesca) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Ezequiel Ávila.
12' CHANCE! Ceballos' shot wide out
CHANCE! Madrid nearly draw level, but Ceballos is denied despite his best attempts with a backheel volley. Left-back Marcelo found plenty of space down the left wing before crossing but Ceballos could only fire past the near post. Huge warning that for Huesca.
15' HUGE CHANCE WASTED! Benzema's shot wide out
CHANCE!! Benzema is the latest Madrid player to go close, but the Frenchman cannot score as he shoots on the turn. Odriozola created the chance by throwing himself into a tackle in the Huesca box but Benzema is denied by Santamaría.
25' GOAL! Real Madrid 1-1 Huesca (Isco)
GOAAAAALLLL REAL MADRID 1-1 HUESCA - Isco finally gives Madrid the goal they have craved after another sensational team move. Diaz's pace caused chaos before he teed up Benzema, but the former Lyon man tried to be too cool and he was denied by Santamaria. However, the rebound fell to back to Diaz who squared the ball for Isco for a simple tap in from close range.
62' GOAL! Real Madrid 2-1 Huesca (Ceballos)
GOAAALLLLL REAL MADRID 2-1 HUESCA - The home fans go wild as Ceballos climbs to his feet after a brave volley finally sees Madrid take the lead. Zidane's men produce one of the best moves of the match to score a second as Bale, Benzema and Ceballos combine. The Welshman picked out Benzema at the far post with a looping cross before the striker headed back across goal for Ceballos to volley home under pressure.
74' GOAL! Real Madrid 2-2 Huesca (Etxeita)
GOAAALLLL REAL MADRID 2-2 HUESCA - The visitors find another goal at Santiago Bernabeu to draw level. From the corner they went short at first, but Madrid allowed them to make a second pass. That proved costly as Gomez had plenty of time to float his cross to the near post before Etxeita steered the ball past Zidane.
89' GOAL! Real Madrid 3-2 Huesca (Benzema)
WHAT A GOALLLLLLL REAL MADRID 3-2 HUESCA - Well it needed something special and Benzema has just produced it. The home side worked their way into the box and the forward finally found a pocket of space to shoot after Marcelo picked him out. Despite being under pressure, Benzema did incredibly well to curl his foot around the ball and fire into the top corner. Stunning strike!
Line-ups
Real Madrid XI: Sergio Ramos, Benzema, Bale, Marcelo, Isco, Nacho, Álvaro Odriozola, Marcos Llorente, Ceballos, Luca Zidane, B.Diaz
Subs: K. Navas, Casemiro, Lucas Vázquez, M.Díaz, J.Vallejo, Sergio Reguilón, Valverde
Huesca XI: Roberto Santamaría, D. Musto, Etxeita, Jorge Pulido, Mantovani, E. Ávila, Moi Gómez, Y. Herrera, J. Hernández, C.Rivera, Javier Galán
Subs: Camacho, Aguilera, J. Añor, Álex Gallar, Aleksandar Jovanovic, Enric Gallego, Adrián Diéguez