Eibar: Irureta; Bóveda, Albentosa, Ekiza, Abraham; Errasti, Dani García; Capa, Arruabarrena (Lekic 78’), Saúl Berjón (Javi Lara 78’); Manu del Moral (Angel 70‘). 4-2-3-1.
Madrid: Casillas; Dani Carvajal, Pepe, Sergio Ramos (Varane 73‘), Marcelo; Isco, Kroos, James (Coentrao 78’); Bale, Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo (Arbeloa 84‘). 4-3-3.
Goals:
0-1. 23. James. Steered far post header past Irureta from lofted Ronaldo cross.
0-2. 43. Ronaldo. Connected with Carvajal centre and fired shot inside near post.
0-3. 69. Benzema. Volley past keeper after James turned ball back from by-line.
0-4. 83. Ronaldo (penalty). After Albentosa blocked Ronaldo free kick with arm.
Yellow cards: Sergio Ramos 21’, Irureta 32’, James 42’, Arruabarrena 71’, Errasti 81’, Albentosa 82’.
Real Madrid stay in top spot after a 0-4 victory at Eibar on Saturday evening, a fourteenth win in a row for Ancelotti’s side in all competitions, nine of which have been in the league. This was a David versus Goliath battle, Madrid’s annual budget over 35 times that of their hosts, although the small pitch and an enthusiastic capacity crowd helped to level the playing field. Manu del Moral missed an early chance for the locals, but Irureta had to be at his best to tip a Bale free kick over the bar, and midway through the first half James headed the visitors in front from Ronaldo’s lofted cross, the referee waving away appeals that Benzema was in an offside position during the build up. Casillas did well to prevent Saúl Berjón from equalizing soon afterwards, but Irureta had to keep out a point blank shot from Sergio Ramos at the other end, and with the first half coming to a close Ronaldo connected with a Dani Carvajal cross to make it two. After the restart Irureta saved again from Ramos, and Isco fired a shot wide before Benzema scored his side’s third, firing a shot past the keeper after James laid the ball back from the by-line. And with five minutes to go Ronaldo completed the scoring from the penalty spot after Albentosa blocked his free kick with his arm inside the area, taking his tally for the season to a record twenty in only eleven league games.