Real Madrid 4 - 0 Racing (Spanish League Day 24)

Real Madrid earned an efficient 4-0 win over Racing Santander at the Bernabeu that keeps them comfortably in the lead on the league table. Di Maria played his first game following his injury, gave a brilliant performance and netted one goal. Cristiano Ronaldo and Benzema (2) also scored.

Di Maria played his first game following his injury

Varane, Marcelo and Kaka made the lineup. The team looked to resolve the match quickly and Ronaldo had the first chance only four minutes into the game. Kaka shot on target two minutes later, forcing goalkeeper Toño to clear the ball towards him again. The midfielder then headed it towards Ronaldo, who sent it into the net with a hedaer of his own. Real slowed down after the goal, but Racing continued to wait for them close to their box.

Benzema had a double shot in the 26th minute that Toño managed to clear on both counts. A few minutes later, Cisma was sent off with a double booking (38'), which inspired Madrid to speed things up. Marcelo and Benzema came close to scoring goals, but Toño saved the day again. The French striker tallied the second for his team in injury time with a subtle shot.

Real Madrid dominated the game completely after half-time. Kaka nearly netted a third from a shot that was marginally off target (47') and Racing started to attack more through Acosta and Babacar without posing much of a threat. Mourinho made Di Maria come on for Ozil amidst a standing ovation (62') and the change was soon followed by Khedira coming on for Granero (70').

The match lacked thrills for a while until Di Maria scored an amazing goal from a distance on the 72-minute mark. The Bernabeu roared in celebration and Mourinho decided to make Carvalho come on for Pepe, who also received a standing ovation.

Ronaldo nearly scored from a beautiful combined effort with Benzema, who eventually tallied the fourth from inside the box after the ball was deflected by Bernardo.

Summary

Stadium: Santiago Bernabeu
Attendance: 76,000
Goals: 1-0 m.6: Ronaldo; 2-0 m.45: Benzema; 3-0 m.72: Di María; 4-0 m.90: Benzema.

Real Madrid 4 - 2 Levante (Spanish League Day 23)

Cristiano Ronaldo used all his weaponry tonight against Levante, tallying a hat-trick that, with another Benzema strike, gave Real Madrid a victory that keeps them ten points ahead from Barcelona on the league table.

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored six hat-tricks this season

Granero and Higuain made the starting lineup, but the Whites conceded a Cabral header following a free-kick by Farinos on the 4-minute mark. Mourinho's men had to try to turn the score around and Higuain ended up hitting a post just a few minutes later (11'). Munua was forced to make a solid save by a spectacular Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick and Real Madrid continued having many opportunities to score. Levante's goalkeeper kept them at bay, making impressive saves again in the 25th and 37th minutes.

An aerial play that initially seemed inconsequential became decisive when Iborra concentrated more on pushing Higuain than on clearing the ball and ended up hitting it with his hands in the box. The penalty was taken and converted by Ronaldo just before half-time.

Real looked to finish things off quickly in the second half and Ronaldo scored again by heading in a great Higuain assist. The Portuguese striker wanted more and ended up tallying another with an amazing 23 metre shot, one of his best since he arrived in Spain. This spectacular goal made the crowd go wild and sing his name, while the player went straight to the coaching area to hug Mourinho and celebrate it with the rest of the bench.

Levante never gave up and, despite being down to ten men, tallied a second strike through a Kone header. Benzema pulled rank and enlarged the cushion with an impressive crossed shot from inside the box.

Callejon, Khedira and Kaka came on for Higuain, Granero and Ozil, and Real continued looking for more goals: Ozil hit the post in the 69th minute and Ronaldo came close to netting a free-kick in the final minutes.

Summary

Stadium: Santiago Bernabeu
Attendance: 67,000
Goals: 0-1, m.4: Cabral. 1-1, m.44: Cristiano Ronaldo (pen). 2-1, m.50: Cristiano Ronaldo. 3-1, m.57: Cristiano Ronaldo. 3-2, m.63: Koné. 4-2, m.66: Benzema.