Lopetegui remains under pressure as Madrid edges Plzen 2-1

Real Madrid beat Viktoria Plzen 2-1 in the group stage of the Champions League on Tuesday in a narrow victory that did little to ease the pressure on embattled coach Julen Lopetegui.

Karim Benzema and Marcelo scored a goal in each half for Madrid as the three-time defending European champions ended a five-match winless streak in all competitions, but Lopetegui's team struggled at times at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

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Real's Karim Benzema, right, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League, group G, soccer match between Real Madrid and Viktoria Plzen at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday Oct. 23, 2018. (AP PhotoPaul White)

Real Madrid beat Viktoria Plzen 2-1 in the group stage of the Champions League on Tuesday in a narrow victory that did little to ease the pressure on embattled coach Julen Lopetegui.

Real's Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League, group G, soccer match between Real Madrid and Viktoria Plzen at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday Oct. 23, 2018. (AP PhotoPaul White)

Madrid has six points in Group G after three matches. Roma, which defeated CSKA Moscow 3-0 at home in the other group match, also has six points.

Real coach Julen Lopetegui gives instructions to his players during a Group G Champions League soccer match between Real Madrid and Viktoria Plzen at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday Oct. 23, 2018. (AP PhotoManu Fernandez)

The visitors, who had some good scoring chances in the first half, pulled one closer with a 79th-minute goal by Patrik Hrosovsky

Real goalkeeper Keylor Navas, left, makes a save in front of Plzen midfielder Patrik Hrosovsky, right, during a Group G Champions League soccer match between Real Madrid and Viktoria Plzen at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday Oct. 23, 2018. (AP PhotoManu Fernandez)

Real's Marcelo, left, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League, group G, soccer match between Real Madrid and Viktoria Plzen at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday Oct. 23, 2018. (AP PhotoPaul White)

Real defender Marcelo, right, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during a Group G Champions League soccer match between Real Madrid and Viktoria Plzen at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday Oct. 23, 2018. (AP PhotoManu Fernandez)

Real's Marcelo celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League, group G, soccer match between Real Madrid and Viktoria Plzen at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday Oct. 23, 2018. (AP PhotoPaul White)

Real midfielder Gareth Bale, top, duels for the ball with Plzen defender Roman Hubnik, front, and Plzen defender David Limbersky during a Group G Champions League soccer match between Real Madrid and Viktoria Plzen at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday Oct. 23, 2018. (AP PhotoManu Fernandez)

Real defender Marcelo, right, scores his side's second goal during a Group G Champions League soccer match between Real Madrid and Viktoria Plzen at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday Oct. 23, 2018. (AP PhotoManu Fernandez)

Plzen midfielder Patrik Hrosovsky celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's opening goal during a Group G Champions League soccer match between Real Madrid and Viktoria Plzen at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday Oct. 23, 2018. (AP PhotoManu Fernandez)

Plzen midfielder Patrik Hrosovsky celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during a Group G Champions League soccer match between Real Madrid and Viktoria Plzen at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday Oct. 23, 2018. (AP PhotoManu Fernandez)

Real's Isco, top, jumps on Plzen goalkeeper Ales Hruska during the Champions League, group G, soccer match between Real Madrid and Viktoria Plzen at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday Oct. 23, 2018. (AP PhotoPaul White)

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Real Madrid beat Viktoria Plzen 2-1 in the group stage of the Champions League on Tuesday in a narrow victory that did little to ease the pressure on embattled coach Julen Lopetegui.

Madrid has six points in Group G after three matches. Roma, which defeated CSKA Moscow 3-0 at home in the other group match, also has six points.

The visitors, who had some good scoring chances in the first half, pulled one closer with a 79th-minute goal by Patrik Hrosovsky

Real goalkeeper Keylor Navas, left, makes a save in front of Plzen midfielder Patrik Hrosovsky, right, during a Group G Champions League soccer match between Real Madrid and Viktoria Plzen at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday Oct. 23, 2018. (AP PhotoManu Fernandez)

Real's Marcelo, left, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League, group G, soccer match between Real Madrid and Viktoria Plzen at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday Oct. 23, 2018. (AP PhotoPaul White)

Real defender Marcelo, right, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during a Group G Champions League soccer match between Real Madrid and Viktoria Plzen at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday Oct. 23, 2018. (AP PhotoManu Fernandez)

Real's Marcelo celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League, group G, soccer match between Real Madrid and Viktoria Plzen at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday Oct. 23, 2018. (AP PhotoPaul White)

Real midfielder Gareth Bale, top, duels for the ball with Plzen defender Roman Hubnik, front, and Plzen defender David Limbersky during a Group G Champions League soccer match between Real Madrid and Viktoria Plzen at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday Oct. 23, 2018. (AP PhotoManu Fernandez)

Real defender Marcelo, right, scores his side's second goal during a Group G Champions League soccer match between Real Madrid and Viktoria Plzen at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday Oct. 23, 2018. (AP PhotoManu Fernandez)

Plzen midfielder Patrik Hrosovsky celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's opening goal during a Group G Champions League soccer match between Real Madrid and Viktoria Plzen at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday Oct. 23, 2018. (AP PhotoManu Fernandez)

Plzen midfielder Patrik Hrosovsky celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during a Group G Champions League soccer match between Real Madrid and Viktoria Plzen at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday Oct. 23, 2018. (AP PhotoManu Fernandez)

Real's Isco, top, jumps on Plzen goalkeeper Ales Hruska during the Champions League, group G, soccer match between Real Madrid and Viktoria Plzen at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday Oct. 23, 2018. (AP PhotoPaul White)

The new coach will have another chance to quieten his critics — maybe his last — in the "clasico" against Barcelona at Camp Nou Stadium in the Spanish league on Sunday.

Madrid has six points in Group G after three matches. Roma, which defeated CSKA Moscow 3-0 at home in the other group match, also has six points.

Madrid had lost four of its last five matches, including a 1-0 defeat at CSKA Moscow.

Benzema opened the scoring with an 11th-minute header and Marcelo added to the lead from inside the area in the 55th after a neat back-heel pass by Gareth Bale.

The visitors, who had some good scoring chances in the first half, pulled one closer with a 79th-minute goal by Patrik Hrosovsky

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