Madrid easily defeat Almeria, but…

Goals from a quintet of players earned Real Madrid a comfortable win at Almeria, but Cristiano Ronaldo came off injured.

Madrid began Week 14’s trip to the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterraneos on Saturday night with purpose and on from an early chance for Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese quickly opened the scoring in the third minute, getting a toe on Isco’s low, wide cross from the right.

Not long after, Ronaldo brought Esteban into action with a long-range effort, whilst Karim Benzema’s follow-up also drew a save from the ‘keeper.

Los Merengues continued to push, and Benzema once more had the next good chance, when a stray back-pass appeared to fall his way, only for Esteban to reach and clear the ball a second before.

Almeria regrouped and drew a strong save from Diego Lopez through Rodri’s header. However, the effort would not have counted as the on-loan Barcelona man was adjudged to have fouled marker Sergio Ramos.

The hosts’ next move midway through the first half saw Suso run at the Madrid defence from the right and cut inside, only to see his curling left-footed effort go just wide of the far post.

Even so, it was Madrid who continued to dominate possession and open up the Almeria midfield and defence to create a number of half-chances.

On the half-hour mark Ronaldo drew another strong save from Esteban, with the ‘keeper guessing correctly by diving low to his right to collect the 28-year-old’s effort after a weaving run past four markers.

With five minutes until the break, Aleix Vidal found the target with a low effort when played through into the box, but Diego Lopez comfortably gathered the ball.

Dani Carvajal had the first opening of the second half, four minutes in, when he brushed the ball across Esteban’s goal and just out.

Within two minutes of that, Madrid had cause for concern when Ronaldo walked off the playing field to consult with medical staff appearing to be in discomfort having attempted a left-footed cross. Then walking straight down the tunnel, the Portuguese was replaced by Jese Rodriguez.

Gareth Bale then missed a clear chance to double Madrid’s lead, when he met Carvajal’s low pass across the goal, only to sky his effort above the posts.

On the hour mark, Benzema controlled and finished nicely centrally from outside the box to double Madrid’s lead, before then being immediately replaced by Alvaro Morata.

A defensive mix-up from Dubarbier saw Bale sneak in to steal possession in the box and make it 3-0 midway through the half.

Isco then collected possession on the edge of the area two minutes later and finished low and to Esteban’s right to make it four.

Alvaro Morata then made the evening even more one-sided, beating the offside trap before coolly scooping the ball over the stranded Almeria goalkeeper.

Substitute Casemiro almost provided a notable cameo soon after with a long range low effort ricocheting off the foot of the post.

Almeria 0-5 Real Madrid

Ronaldo 3 (RM), Benzema 61 (RM), Bale 72 (RM), Isco 74 (RM), Morata 81 (RM)

Almeria: Esteban; Nelson, Torsiglieri, Pellerano (Tebar 66), Trujillo, Dubarbier; Verza (Soriano 59), Azeez, Aleix (Oscar Diaz 73), Suso, Rodri

Real Madrid: Diego Lopez; Carvajal, Ramos, Pepe, Arbeloa; Xabi Alonso, Isco, Illarra (Casemiro 74); Bale, Benzema (Morata 62), Cristiano (Jese 54)

Tags Bale benzema Esteban Isco Morata Ronaldo
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