La Liga 2022/23 Matchday 15 round-up | Benzema scores brace in Madrid win; Sevilla held

Here are the latest results of football action from La Liga matchday 15 of 38

Playing his first match since his football world cup hopes were dashed by an injury, Karim Benzema came to the rescue of Real Madrid with a pair of late goals to snatch a 2-0 victory at 10-man Valladolid.

Benzema had a subdued showing in his first competitive match since November 2 following injuries that had limited his availability for his club and finally sidelined him for his France at Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022.

But the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner came through in the final minutes on Friday to give Carlo Ancelotti's side the three points it needed to provisionally move to the top of the Spanish league standings.

Madrid also relied on goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to keep the score deadlocked as it struggled to create chances in its first game since the league paused for seven weeks for the tournament in Qatar.

Valladolid defended well and threatened on the break at its José Zorrilla stadium until the game finally swung in Madrid's favor when the video assistant referee spotted a handball in the area by defender Javi Sánchez.

Benzema stepped up and coolly slotted his penalty kick into the left corner as goalkeeper Jordi Masip fell the other way to grab the lead in the 83rd minute.

Valladolid's chances of hunting for a late equalizer were hurt when striker Sergio León, one of its most incisive players, was shown a direct red card apparently for using inappropriate language while protesting the penalty decision.