Madrid: Keylor Navas; Arbeloa, Pepe, Varane (Nacho 86‘), Coentrao; Illarramendi (Lucas Silva 65‘), Kroos, James (Isco 65‘); Jesé, Chicharito, Cristiano Ronaldo. 4-3-3.
Almería: Rubén; Ximo Navarro, Mauro Dos Santos, Trujillo, Dubarbier; Verza (Azeez 67’), Thomas (Espinosa 62‘); Edgar (Jonathan Zongo 58‘), Corona, Mané; Hemed. 4-2-3-1.
Goals:
1-0. 44. James. Struck volley past Rubén after Trujillo headed away Kroos pass.
2-0. 49. Mauro Dos Santos (own goal). Deflected Kroos centre past own keeper.
3-0. 84. Arbeloa. Got on the end of Chicharito cross to turn shot wide of Rubén.
Yellow cards: Coentrao 76’.
Real Madrid stay two points behind leaders Barcelona after a 3-0 victory over Almería on Wednesday evening. It took Ancelotti’s side a bit of time to get going, although they still dominated the first half, the visitors only troubling Keylor Navas (one of several changes to the line-up) with a long shot from Mané. Ronaldo tested Rubén and fired a couple of shots wide, and James also went close before thrashing a first time volley past the keeper on the stroke of half time. Soon after the restart Mauro Dos Santos turned a Kroos cross into his own net under pressure from Ronaldo, and Varane, Chicharito and Ronaldo all tried their luck before Arbeloa got on the end of Chicharito’s cross to wrap things up near the end.