Real Madrid: Benzema winner against Sevilla eases pressure on Zidane

Karim Benzema's second-half header earned Real Madrid victory over Sevilla as Zinedine Zidane's side maintained their unbeaten start in La Liga.

Sevilla goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik denied summer signing Eden Hazard a first goal from close-range in the first half.

Meanwhile, the hosts had a late Javier Hernandez goal ruled out for offside.

Sevilla - managed by former Real manager Julen Lopetegui who was sacked after four-and-a-half months in charge in October - fall to fifth following their first defeat of the season.

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After their opening win over Celta Vigo, successive draws with Valladolid and Villarreal and a nervy 3-2 win against Levante had made for an unconvincing start to the season for Real.

That feeling was compounded by a heavy defeat to PSG, which left Zidane with a win ratio of below 50% since returning for a second spell as manager towards the end of last season.

Sevilla, with three wins and as many clean sheets from their opening four games, offered a stern test of character and one which, ultimately, Real were able to scrap their way through.

In a game of few clear-cut chances, Vaclik stood strong to deny both Hazard and Dani Carvajal at close-range, while Sevilla failed to land any of their nine shots on target.

The hosts had looked to be edging closer to a goal when Benzema met Carvajal's floated cross with a powerful header after 64 minutes to score his fifth goal of the campaign.

Substitute Hernandez, making a first La Liga start since a summer move from West Ham, converted from an offside position for Sevilla in the closing minutes as Real recorded a first clean sheet since 28 April.