MADRID, Spain (AFP) — Real Madrid quietened crisis talk after back-to-back defeats as Marco Asensio added to his collection of wonder strikes in a 3-0 victory over Las Palmas at the Santiago Bernabeu yesterday.

Victory cuts third-placed Real’s deficit on Barcelona at the top of La Liga back to eight points.

However, it was another off night for Madrid’s strikers as Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema were held scoreless as Casemiro, Isco and 21-year-old Asensio provided the killer touch.

“They are the first ones that aren’t happy,” said Real boss Zinedine Zidane of Ronaldo and Benzema’s goal droughts.

“The important thing is the work that they do and the chances we create.”

Benzema has been fiercely criticised for his role as Real lost to promoted Girona last weekend and at Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League on Wednesday.

And the level of discontent with the Frenchman was in evidence, as he was jeered by the home faithful inside the first five minutes when he failed to slot past Raul Lizoain after being played clean through on goal by Ronaldo.

Both Ronaldo and Benzema have only one La Liga goal each to their name so far this season, and it was the World Player of the Year who had Real’s next three efforts as he blasted into the side-netting, curled a shot just wide and then placed a header from close range too close to Lizoain.

“We know that Cristiano is happier when he scores,” added Zidane.

“We are all convinced that (at the end of the season) he is the one that will make the difference.”