Real Madrid vs Malaga. Spanish La Liga.
Santiago BernabeuAttendance68,708.
Saturday 21 January 2017 18:21, UK
Two first-half goals from Sergio Ramos against Malaga sent Real Madrid four points clear in La Liga with a 2-1 victory at the Bernabeu on Saturday.
Ramos struck twice in an open first half and his brace proved to be enough to put Zinedine Zidane's side back on the winning trail after consecutive defeats, despite Juanpi halving the deficit in the second half.
Despite now playing an extra game on their title rivals, the result leaves Real Madrid four points clear ahead of second-placed Sevilla and five ahead of Barcelona, who both play on Sunday. Malaga remain in 13th place and are now winless in their last eight matches.
Real Madrid were without a number of key players entering the match, with Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez, Pepe and Dani Carvajal all sidelined.
For Malaga, manager Marcelo Romero handed a full debut to Watford loanee Adalberto Penaranda and a first appearance for ex-Manchester City defender Martin Demichelis off the bench.
Real started the game strongly with Cristiano Ronaldo missing a one-on-one just 11 minutes into the match after picking up a finely-crafted pass from Toni Kroos which Malaga goalkeeper Idriss Kameni smothered.
Moments later Lucas Vazquez, who was dangerous all afternoon, beat the error-prone Juan Carlos down the right and drilled a low cross into the direction of Karim Benzema. He attempted to flick the ball inside the near post but the ball ended up evading his grasp entirely.
Despite a flurry of chances for Malaga around the 20th minute mark, which saw Keylor Navas making strong reflex saves from Pablo Fornals and Chory Castro, it would be the 30-year-old Ramos who would give Madrid the lead shortly after an injured Marcelo was forced off the pitch with a knee injury and replaced by Isco.
The goal was a trademark header from the Spain international, who met Kroos' outswinging corner after slipping in-between Ignacio Camacho and Recio to register the 49th goal of his La Liga career.
That figure would soon turn to 50 as an increasingly dominant Real, who switched to three at the back, won a free-kick deep in Malaga's half. Kroos was the provider again with a curled in cross as Ramos beat Malaga's offside trap to stretch for the ball and tap in past the helpless Kameni.
Ramos' second of the game makes him just the fourth defender in La Liga history to reach the 50 goal milestone.
The second half started slowly with Real Madrid looking comfortably, only for Malaga to create nerves around the Bernabeu after pulling a goal back.
Following a Real Madrid attacking move which resulted in Ronaldo being offside, Malaga's attacking full-back Juan Carlos burst into the box and smashed a low effort at Navas, who was able to parry the ball away only as far as Juanpi, who calmly slotted the ball into the near corner.
The goal was quickly followed up by an excellent save once more from Navas, who strongly palmed away a vicious shot from Castro.
Momentum was swinging Malaga's way, yet Madrid were quickly almost gifted a third goal. A simple pass back from Demichelis to Kameni was missed by the goalkeeper who was just about able to get back, slide in and clear off the line. Ronaldo was then gifted a one-on-one but Kameni was able to produce get in his way and make the block.
Despite some pressure from Malaga to find an equaliser and a couple of close-range near misses to sum up a generally disappointing afternoon for Benzema and Ronaldo, Real were able to hold on for the crucial win as they create breathing space ahead of their title rivals.
