BARCELONA, Spain — Zinedine Zidane held a second audition for the Real Madrid team of the future on Sunday, when Karim Benzema showed why he has always been one of his coach's favorite players.
Benzema played a part in two goals before coming through with one of his own in the 89th minute as Madrid grabbed a 3-2 victory and avoided an embarrassing stumble against last-placed Huesca.
But Zidane likely was left with as many questions as answers regarding which players deserve to continue at the club after an expected summer cull.
Huesca, a tiny club with a tiny budget playing in its first season in the Spanish league, took the match right to Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.