Eibar gave Real Madrid everything they could handle Saturday, but in the end the Blancos talent won out in a 4-0 victory for Carlo Ancelotti's side. It's Madrid's 14th win in a row, and a nice gift for Ancelotti, who was coaching Madrid for the 50th time. Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice and was joined on the scoresheet by James Rodriguez and Karim Benzema.
Eibar vs. Real Madrid: Final score 0-4, Los Blancos overwhelm tenacious Eibar
Real Madrid won their 14th straight match and remained on top of La Liga.
Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images
Eibar jumped on Real Madrid early by pressing the midfield and forcing some mistakes from the visitors. While they threatened the goal a couple times, they couldn't score and by the quarter-hour mark, Madrid had settled in to the game. Gareth Bale forced a tremendous diving save from Eibar keeper Xabi Irureta in the 16th minute, serving as a warnings hot across Eibar's bow.
The inevitable Madrid goal game midway through the first half when Cristiano Ronaldo tried to feed Karim Benzema right in front of the net. The French striker’s poor touch popped the ball up towards the end line, but Ronaldo was able to send it right back across towards the far post where James Rodriguez had moved in. The Colombian striker was happy to head the ball into the empty net and give Madrid a 1-0 lead.
Saúl Berjón very nearly pulled Eibar even in the 26th minute but his point-blank chance was stopped by Iker Casillas.
Ronaldo doubled the Madrd lead just before halftime, one-timing a pass from Dani Carvajal up and over a defender and past Irureta inside the near post. The amount of spin Ronaldo put on the ball was impressive considering the view from behind the shot showed the initial trajectory seemingly well outside the post.
Despite an outstanding effort from Elbar in the second half, Madrid put the game away in the 69th minute when defender Eneko Boveda tried to shield Marcelo and James from the ball as it rolled towards the end line for a goal kick. The duo combined to pick the defender’s pocket and James delivered the ball to Benzema, who hammered the ball into the top corner.
Ronaldo scored his second of the match, and 20th goal of the season in league play, in the 83rd minute after the referee ruled that Raúl Albentosa committed a handball when trying to block Ronaldo’s free kick.
Eibar: Irureta, Abraham, Ekiza, Albentosa, Bóveda, García, Errasti, Berjón (Lara 78’), Arruabarrena (Lekić 78’), Capa, Manu (Ángel 70’)
Goals: None
Real Madrid: Casillas, Marcelo, Sergio Ramos (Varane 73'), Pepe, Carvajal, James (Coentrão 78'), Kroos, Isco, Bale, Ronaldo (Arbeloa 83'), Benzema
Goals: James (23’), Ronaldo (44’, 83’), Benzema (69’)
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