First Division - Day 34

Real Madrid 3 - Villarreal 0

Madrid: Keylor Navas; Danilo, Varane, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo; Kroos (Isco 72’), Casemiro, Modric (James 78’); Lucas Vázquez (Jesé 83‘), Benzema Ronaldo. 4-3-3.
Villarreal: Sergio Asenjo; Mario, Erik Bailly, Bonera, Rukavina; Jonathan Dos Santos (Samuel García 61’), Bruno, Trigueros (Rodrigo 72’), Denis Suárez; Bakambu, Adrián López (Leo Baptistao 64‘). 4-4-2.

Goals:
1-0. 40. Benzema. Steered header back in to net after Asenjo saved from Ronaldo.
2-0. 68. Lucas Vázquez. Picked up return Benzema pass and ran on to score.
3-0. 76. Modric. First time shot past keeper after Danilo crossed from right wing.

Yellow cards: Trigueros 43’, Danilo 44’, Casemiro 85’.

Real Madrid remain a point behind joint leaders Barcelona and Atlético after they won 3-0 against fourth placed Villarreal in the last match on Wednesday, an eighth league victory in a row for Zidane’s team. Neither side created too many chances in the opening minutes, but with four minutes to go to the break Benzema headed the opener in to an empty net after Sergio Asenjo could only push out an angled shot from Cristiano Ronaldo. Navas had to save from Denis Suárez before the half time whistle, but Modric fired a shot just wide, and midway through the second half Lucas Vázquez ran on to a return pass from Benzema to make it two. Modric wrapped things soon afterwards from Danilo’s centre, and the only negative news for the coach was a late injury to Ronaldo whilst trying an acrobatic overhead kick, the locals consequently having to play out the last couple of minutes with ten men.