Madrid ease to win against Betis

Real Madrid’s attacking quartet all scored, along with Alvaro Morata as they eased to a 5-0 win over Real Betis on Saturday afternoon.

Carlo Ancelotti named an ultra-attacking line-up as Los Blancos went to Benito Villamarin looking to go level on points with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

Angel Di Maria, Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale were all in the XI, whilst the Verdiblancos welcomed Leo Baptistao into the side after he joined on loan from Atletico Madrid.

Despite the hosts being bottom of the table, they were holding their own in the opening exchanges, keeping out the capital club by getting men behind the ball.  And it wasn’t until the 10th minute that the visitors had their first real chance – the Seville outfit though, cleared well from a Luka Modric corner.

It wasn’t long though, until the Merengues showed their class and it was that man Ronaldo who opened the scoring with a wonder strike. On the week that he won his second Ballon d’Or, the Portugal international rifled home a shot from 30 yards into the top corner that left Stephan Andersen motionless.

Juan Carlos Garrido’s men were really up against now, but tried to react by pressing the visitors with a high intensity. It was end-to-end stuff, but Madrid went closest to another goal, only for Benzema to miss Di Maria’s enticing cross.

The Frenchman’s error though was soon forgotten, as midway through the half, a free kick from Bale was lifted over the wall from 25 yards and nestled into the back of the net.

Hope wasn’t entirely lost for the home fans however, as with just a few minutes remaining they created a glorious chance, but Leo Baptistao’s brilliant cross could be turned in by Ruben Castro.

But on the stroke of half time, the game was essentially decided as Luka Modric feinted to shoot inside the area before laying off for Benzema to finish.

After the break, the pattern of the first half was repeated almost immediately with Ronaldo having a brace of chances – the first, a free kick, went over the bar, whilst the second went wide of Andersen’s left-hand post.

And with an hour gone, the fourth member of the Blancos attack got himself on the scoresheet, as Di Maria hammered into the bottom corner from all of 35 yards after a Madrid corner was cleared straight to him.

The match moved into an easy pace after that, but with 89 minutes on the clock, and the Betis defenders claiming offside, Morata chested the ball down inside the area and knocked the ball in from close-range.

Real Betis 0-5 Real Madrid

Scorers: Ronaldo 11 (RM), Bale 25 (RM), Benzema 45 (RM), Di Maria 61 (RM), Morata 89 (RM)

Real Betis: Andersen; Chica, Paulao, Amaya, Dídac; Lolo (Caro 79), Matilla, Salva (Juanfran 62); Leo Baptistao, Molina, Rubén Castro (Vadillo 56).

Real Madrid: Diego Lopez, Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos (Nacho 73), Marcelo; Alonso, Modric; Di Maria (Illarra 69), Bale, Benzema (Morata 77), Ronaldo
 

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