Elche: Tyton; Damián Suárez, Enzo Roco, Lombán, Edu Albácar; Pasalic (Rafa Gálvez 75‘), Adrián González (Cristian Herrera 81‘); Víctor Rodríguez, Fayçal Fajr, Aarón Ñíguez (Rodrigues 64‘); Jonathas. 4-2-3-1.
Madrid: Casillas; Carvajal, Varane, Pepe, Marcelo; Lucas Silva (Illarramendi 84‘), Kroos, Isco (Arbeloa 89’); Bale, Benzema (Jesé 93‘), Cristiano Ronaldo. 4-3-3.
Goals:
0-1. 56. Benzema. Tap-in from close to goal after Lombán clearance hit Tyton.
0-2. 69. Ronaldo. Powered header past keeper after Isco crossed in from left.
Yellow cards: Edu Albácar 24’, Marcelo 38’, Jonathas 40’, Aarón Ñíguez 52’, Enzo Roco 71’.
Real Madrid increased their lead at the top of the table after a 0-2 victory at Elche in the last match of Sunday evening, Barcelona’s defeat the day before meaning that Ancelotti’s side restore the four point gap over their arch rivals. Although he netted in the midweek Champions League victory, Cristiano Ronaldo had not scored in the league in four weeks, and tried his luck several times in the first half, curling an early shot against the outside of the post, then bringing a good save out of Tyton. Benzema got the ball in the net with an overhead kick only for the strike to be ruled out for a borderline offside, and Ronaldo missed a couple more chances before the half time whistle. Casillas wasn’t really tested until he had to push an Aarón shot around the post soon after the restart, but Isco saw an effort go wide a few minutes later, and a minute after that Benzema opened the scoring with a little bit of fortune, Lombán’s attempted clearance hitting Tyon in the stomach and rebounded straight to the striker in front of goal. With twenty minutes to go Ronaldo finally got his name on the scoresheet, connecting with Isco’s cross to steer a header past the keeper, and he almost added another with a free kick which went just wide of the upright later on.