Benzema triple helps Madrid secure Audi Cup 2019 bronze

Despite the emphatic scoreline in Munich, there is still plenty of work ahead for Zidane as this Real Madrid side are far from the finished article.

Next up for the LaLiga side is a trip to Austria to face Salzburg (August 7th) before winding up the pre-season activity with a game at the Olimpico against AS Roma on August 11.   

Questions will be asked about the porous nature of the Madrid rear-guard with gaping holes (especially) in the first half allowing the Turkish side to create danger and the SuperLig side could have been three up inside the first ten minutes.

Real Madrid finally secure their first win of the 2019-20 pre-season campaign with goals from Benzema (3), Nacho and Mariano on target for Zidane's men. 

Real Madrid finally get their first win in the current pre-season with a performance that convinced at times as much as it failed to do so with many defensive lapses (especially in the first half). 

That's all we have time for in Munich as the referee sounds his whistle.

Kubo looks so composed every time he gets the ball..... and just 18 years old !

Sayyadmanesh into the book for a rash challenge. 

Mariano almost bags his second but can only look on frustrated as Bayindir saves well.

Mariano almost scores with an cheeky back heel effort but the flag was up. 

Frey goes close again for the SuperLig side. The pace of the game has ebbed considerably as we head towards the 90' mark.

Great play from Guiterrez who lobs the ball to the back post and Nacho, leaning back fails to get over the ball heading over.   

Emphatic drive home from Mariano after great work from Lucas Vazquez who forced the Fener' keeper to parry the ball into the path of the Madrid No. 7

Frey heads over for the Turkish side 

Modric carded for a tug in the middle of the park. 

Lucas Vazquez has a shot on target from an acute angle but the Fener keeper saves well.

The Allianz Arena almost full now with local interest in the Bayern-Spurs final of the Audi Cup which follows this Madrid-Fenerbahce match.

15' to go in Munich. Real Madrid on the cusp of their first 2019-20 pre-seaon win and claim a place on the podium at the 2019 Audi Cup. 

A raft of changes for Fener' too which we'll bring you now.

Valverde off to for Madrid with Seoane on.

Isco and Kross both off

More changes: RMCF - Modric and Kubo poised to come on  

Fine strike from Rodrygo Goes with the Brazilian forcing Bayindir to save well.

Possession stats on the 70' mark:

First card of the night for De la Fuente as hacks Muriqui from behind. 

Sombre looking Zizou tonight in munich. 

Mariano has a long range effort but his right foot pile-driver goes high and wide.

Fener go close ta making it 4-4 as Lunin saves well moving quickly to smother the ball. 

Vnicius, Benzema and Odriozola the players making way at the last triple change

Great predatory instincts from the defender as he pounces on a save from the Fener' keeper to slot home  

Carvajal, Gutierrez and Mariano on for Real Madrid

Tufan with the goal of the night leaving the Ukrainian keeper with no chance.

Isla and Moses on for Saglam and Kadioglu

Over 10' gone in the second half and the men in yellow yet to make any inroads into the oppostotion half. Isco goes close with the goal beckomning.    

Much better from Real Madrid in this half. Not sure what Zidane said at the break but it seems to have had a degree of impact with an added touch of intensity from the men in 'mint green'.

Fine assist from Vazquez who delivers a pin-point cross onto the French striker's head. Unmarked, the No. 9 nods home.  

The Real Madrid XI who started the game in munich this evening.

It has to be said that the cut of this new third green shirt does little for Hazard...

Two goals from the French striker tonight in Munich.

Vinicius swaps wings with the changes, the Brazilian now playing on his favoured left hand side.  

Off we go in munich...

Changes too for Fener' and we´ll bring you those immeintly

Lucas Vazquez for Hazard 

Keylor Navas makes way with Lunin on 

De La Fuente is stripped and appears to be poised to make an appearance. An obvious replacement for Varane. 

With many players having been involved in yesterday's defeat to Spurs, it's only a matter of time before Zidane starts the rotation process.

The teams emerge from the tunnel.   

Certainly seems to be a clamour from Real Madrid fans to see more of Japanese teenager Takefusa Kubo with Zidane appearing cautious to limit his first team playing time.

The whistle sounds in Munich with a scoreline of 2-2.

Isco caught napping offside. Benzema, Marcelo, Navas and Vinicius the bright spots for Real Madrid this half.  

I'm with Floyd on this....

Benzema really is unpopular with the Fenerbahçe fans gathered here at the Allianz Arena tonight....

Into the final minutes of the half and I imagine we'll see full scale changes from both teams at the interval.

Both teams could be accused of lacking that competitive match sharpness with both sides guilty of infantile errors.

The game has ebbs and flows with both teams enjoying spells of dominance before letting the other side enjoy possession. Fenerbahçe break in a 4 vs 4 situation but the move breaks down.

Fenerbahçe attack again and once again Navas is on hand to deflect the ball away. 

Once again poor defending on the left hand side saw the Fener striker totally unmarked.

Good strike from Benzema who forces the best from Bayindir in the Fenerbahce goal. No one in a 'mint green' shirt on hand to latch onto the rebound. 

Yet again, poor execution from Hazard as he tries to feed Benzema but underhits the pass. 

Madrid ahead now on possession stats:

Excellent delivery too from Toni Kroos with an immaculateyly delivered deal ball.

Far too easy for the French striker who rose ahead of Mexican Reyes who was a spolit second slower than Benzema.

Fine delivery from Marcelo on the right hand side and a poor mis-cue from Hazard who is clearly some way off full season fitness levels.

The Turkish SuperLig commences on the same weekend as LaLiga with Fenerbahçe facing Gazişehir Gaziantep F.K. the same weekend Madrid travel to Vigo to face Celta.

Benzema almost weaves into a goal scoring position but the Fenerbahçe defence bundle the ball away for a corner.

Fenerbahçe earn a corner (looked like a goal kick) after more solid work on the left hand side where the Tukish side are getting space to create danger.

Fenerbahce work the ball well down the left flank and a fortunate deflection guides the ball into Navas' arms. Very much a game of to and fro with Vinicius looking lively for Real Madrid.

Madrid seem to have overcome that early wobble and are now attempting to move the ball around with poise and purpose.

15' possession stats 

Question marks over Diego Reyes' defending with the Mexican defender having a shocker with his attempted clearance. Bernzema with a cool head tucks the ball into the corner to tie the game. 

Ten minutes gone here in Munich, Fenerbache lead 0-1 and it could possibly be 0-3 ! 

Tufan calls Navas into action again with the Costa Rican stopper palming away for a corner.  

Almost two for the Turkish side as the ball is saved on the line. Madrid wobble and one senses a degree of nerves.

Hazard does look a tad ...ahem 'chunky'...

Fine delivery from Marcelo finds Benzema who is greeted with a hail of jeers from the Fenerbahce supporters. The French striker fails to find a man in "mint green" and the move breaks down.

Patient start form both sides as fans continue to pack into the Allianz Arena (which I anticipate to be full by the second half).  

Former Real Socidead man Diego Reyes starts for the Turkish side tonight...

All set in Munich ... The Turkish side get the action underway.... 

Fenerbahce in their away kit of all yellow tonight.... Why are both not wearing their traditional kits ? Don't ask me... merchandise to be shifted I guess ....

A sparse crowd at the Allianz Arena for this 3rd-4th place game with the big walk up expected at 20:00 as Bayern and Spurs face off in the 2019 Audi Cup.

Tonight is Madrid's third last game of their 2019-20 pre-season activity. After Fenerbahce, Zidane's  men face Salzburg in Austria and wrap up pre-season with an away trip to the Italian capital to face AS Roma.  

After a disappointing start to the 2018-19 season in Turkey with The Yellow Canaries even flirting with relegation at point, a strong run-in saw the side from Kadikoy almost secure a place in Europe.

Pre-match 'rondo' for Madrid as kick-off looms....  

Real Madrid set to debut their new 2019-20 season third kit tonight. Mint Green they tell us .....

What lies in store for us tonight in Munich? On paper the Turkish side present an ideal opponent for Zidane's side to get back on track after a highly disappointing pre-season.  The SuperLig side will be smarting from their mauling at the hands of Bayern and will want to impress their supporters. An intriguing contest awaits.... 

Real Madrid starting XI confirmed: Keylor; Odriozola, Varane, Nacho, Marcelo; Kroos, Valverde, Isco; Vinicius, Benzema and Hazard.

The action from Munich gets underway at 18:00 CEST.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the 2019 Audi Cup as Real Madrid and Fenerbahce play in the 3rd/4th place game.