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GRANADA, Spain -- Karim Benzema scored to give Real Madrid a 1-0 win at Granada in the Spanish league Monday amid growing speculation the club is close to a blockbuster deal to sign Wales winger Gareth Bale. Madrid started brightly thanks to the playmaking of Angel Di Maria which led to Benzemas goal in the 10th minute, but left Granada with the chance to snatch the draw late. Madrid joined defending champion Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Athletic Bilbao and Villarreal as the only teams to win the first two rounds of the season. Madrids offer to English club Tottenham for Bale is reportedly similar to the record 80 million pounds (then $131 million) it paid for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009. And while it appeared the transfer was close to being done over the weekend, Bale remained a Tottenham player and is expected back with his team after a two-day break to rest a hurt foot he used to visit the southern Spanish resort town of Marbella. If Bales possible arrival wasnt enough to distract from the action on the pitch at Los Carmenes Stadium, there was also the sight of Spain and Madrid captain Iker Casillas sitting on the bench for a second consecutive match under coach Carlo Ancelotti. Despite a week of pressure by Spanish media to see Casillas returned to Madrids goal, Ancelotti stuck with Lopez in goal and maintained former coach Jose Mourinhos decision from last season to reduce Casillas to the role of backup. Ancelotti said his decision was because "Diegos playing well right now. Theres nothing else to say." Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa called on Madrids fans to unite behind the team and let rest the debate over the goalkeeper. "I support them both, Lopez and Iker, just like my teammates do, and I think it would be interesting if the public did the same," he said. Even though Madrid has two wins in as many games, it has struggled to take the first six points of the season after needing a late goal to edge Real Betis in Ancelottis debut. "We are in the second round, with a new coach and new players," said Arbeloa. "Its normal that we are not at our top level. We are trying to do it the best we can, but it takes time." Bale might be tagged to be Madrids next big threat up front, but in the meantime Di Maria put on an all-around attacking display against the overmatched Granada in the first half hour. Di Maria had already tested the keeper and set up Benzema before Granada left the Argentina international with enough time to pick out Ronaldos run from the left flank. The Portugal forwards first touch to control the ball wasnt good, but Benzema was there to drive the ball home as the defence looked on. Madrid seemed ready to romp as Mesut Ozil was denied from close by Granada goalie Roberto Fernandez and Di Maria again crossed for Ronaldo, only for Ronaldo to uncharacteristically whiff when trying to slot in the dangerous pass. Madrid almost doubled its lead in the 62nd through Francisco "Isco" Alarcon who wrong-footed his marker before forcing Fernandez to push his shot onto the post. Ronaldo came alive as the rest faded and drew several saves from Fernandez, but he was still left without a goal this season. Granada surged forward in the final minutes and managed to trap Madrid in its area, but it couldnt do better than pepper the box with crosses that never turned into shots on goal. Evan Longoria Black Jersey . -- Playing time has been limited for Maxim Tissot this season, so the Montreal Impact defender made the most of his first scoring opportunity on Saturday. Corey Dickerson Rays Jersey . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. http://www.mlbraysstore.com/authentic-desmond-jenn...ys-jers ey/ . - Connor McDavid scored 53 seconds into overtime as the Erie Otters came from behind to defeat the visiting Guelph Storm 4-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Kevin Kiermaier Rays Jersey . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter. Alex Cobb Jersey . P.A. Parenteau scored early in the third period to help the Avs edge Toronto 2-1 on Tuesday night. Cory Sarich also scored for Colorado (3-0-0), which is off to its best ever start.BATON ROUGE, La. -- Whether Jeremy Hill deserves a prominent role in LSUs offence this early in the season is a matter for debate. His off-season arrest aside, there is no denying what a game-changer the explosive, 6-foot-2, 235-pound running back can be for the surging sixth-ranked Tigers, who have quickly re-established their credentials as contenders in the Southeastern Conference. Hill rushed for a career-high 184 yards and tied a career high with three touchdowns, helping LSU defeat previously unbeaten Auburn, 35-21 on Saturday night. Running with a combination of power, agility and speed, Hill scored touchdowns of 49, 10 and 6 yards. He set up yet another score with a 54-yard scamper in which he was shoved out of bounds at the 1. Hill was quick to deflect some of the credit to LSUs young offensive line for opening "gaping holes." "It was just up to me to make a couple of guys miss," Hill added. Even Hills defensive teammates talked about being "pumped up" on the sideline as they watched Hill tear off big runs. "For him to be that big and run that fast, its ridiculous," LSU cornerback Jalen Mills said. Tre Mason rushed for 132 yards and had two short touchdown runs in the third quarter for Auburn (3-1, 1-1 SEC), the second cutting LSUs lead to 28-14. Zach Mettenberger responded with his only touchdown pass of the night -- a 32-yarder to Jarvis Landry -- early in the fourth quarter as LSU (4-0, 1-0) dimmed Auburns hopes for a comeback. Mettenberger was 14 of 22 for a season-low 229 yards. He also threw his first interception of the season, but it wasnt that costly as LSUs 228 yards rushing helped it stay in control for most of the game. Auburns Nick Marshall was 17-of-33 passing for 224 yards and was intercepted twice. He also rushed for 46 yards. Although LSU raced to a three-touchdown lead, Auburn refused to fold. Auburn pulled within two scores on Cameron Artis-Paynes 12-yard touchdown run with 6:33 left, then nearly pulled off a successful onside kick. Auburn recovered, but on replay review was deemed to have touched the ball before it went the requisite 10 yards. "Our kids didnt quit and theyre not going to quit," first-year Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. "Im very proud of our guys and with that attitude theyll have a chance to improve." Auburn already appears substantially better than last season, when it won three games all year and wennt winless in the SEC.dddddddddddd LSU coach Les Miles applauded his teams fast start and its timely answers to Auburns second-half surges, but Miles also said he would have liked the game to have "a nice, orderly finish," adding, "That was not what I consider orderly." With rain steady throughout the day and well into the first half, ball security was a challenge early and hurt Auburn most. Nick Marshalls fumbled handoff on fourth-and-1 on the LSU 41 led to Hills long TD run three plays later for the games opening score. Punter Steven Clarks mishandled snap on Auburns second possession of the game set up Hills 10-yard score to give LSU a 14-0 lead before six minutes had elapsed. Already, Auburn was facing a larger deficit than at any point in its first three games. "We kind of beat ourselves in the beginning," Mason said. "Mistakes after mistakes can get frustrating and that happened. "We also have to figure out how to play in weather like this." LSU was threatening to take a three-score lead when running back Terrence Magee fumbled on the Auburn 12, but Hills slashing 54-yard run set up fullback J.C. Copelands forceful touchdown carry to make it 21-0. Auburn did not score until early in the third quarter. Masons 2-yard TD run capped a 50-yard drive that began with Auburn safety Jermaine Whiteheads interception. LSU responded immediately with a 75-yard drive that ended with Hills third TD. During much of the off-season, it wasnt clear if Hill would be able to play at all. His arrest for landing a punch outside a bar in late April violated his probation from an earlier misdemeanour plea to carnal knowledge of a juvenile. A judge placed further restrictions on Hills probation, but agreed to let him remain out of jail. Miles, whod suspended Hill after his arrest, reinstated him when fall practice began and benched him only for LSUs season-opening victory over TCU. A week later, Hill scored on his first carry against UAB. He scored twice last week against Kent State, including a 58-yarder. He was even more dominant this weekend. ---- NOTES: Auburn WR Jaylon Denson was carted off with what appeared to be a serious knee injury in the first quarter. ... LSU DT Anthony Johnson appeared to hurt his left leg, but LSU did not provide any update on his condition. ... LSU G Trai Turner left with a right ankle injury but Miles said he was not seriously hurt. Cheap China Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China China NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China ' ' '
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