VITORIA-GASTEIZ, Spain (Reuters) - Karim Benzema picked up where he left off last season by scoring twice to fire Real Madrid to a 4-1 win away to Alaves in their opening game of the LaLiga campaign. Benzema scored a scrappy second goal in the 62nd but moments later Alaves pulled one back when striker Joselu slotted in a penalty after a foul by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. "To call Benzema just a striker does not do him justice. The Italian also criticised his side for their sluggish start but was pleased with how they improved after halftime. "But we were much better in the second half, we showed more intensity and had more quality."
