Real Madrid welcomed Real Betis to the Bernabeu on Saturday in what was Rafael Benitez's first home La Liga game in charge of the Spanish giants.
It took just two minutes for the hosts to open the scoring, with Gareth Bale notching his first goal of the campaign, before James Rodriguez made it 2-0 in the latter stages of the first period.
Karim Benzema and James quickly made it three and then four early in the second half, before Betis striker Ruben Castro missed from the penalty spot just before the hour.
The scoring was not finished in Madrid, however, as Bale netted his second of the game in the 89th minute.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Evening all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues from the Bernabeu as Real Madrid welcome Real Betis. It is obviously early days in the season, but Real Madrid have already fallen five points behind the reigning Spanish champions Barcelona, who have just beaten Malaga. A goalless draw against Sporting Gijon in their opener has almost made this game a must-win for Los Blancos.
Drawing 0-0 at a newly-promoted club was a disappointing way to start the season, but Real Madrid are unbeaten in their last 12 league meetings at home to Betis, while they have won 26 of their last 27 home league games against Andalusian sides. Real Madrid have also not gone two league games without a goal since September 2011 - not exactly what Betis want to hear!
Betis, meanwhile, needed a late goal from Ruben Castro last weekend to secure a point in a 1-1 draw at home to Villarreal. Pepe Mel's side have won just one of their last 23 away La Liga matches, however, while Mel has actually lost five of his six league meetings with Real Madrid as manager.
Betis were relegated from La Liga at the end of the 2013-14 season after finishing bottom of the table, but they secured a return after winning the Segunda last season. Betis actually finished seventh in Spain's top flight in 2012-13, but inconsistency has been a problem over the last 10 years. On their last trip to the Bernabeu, they were beaten 2-1 at the start of the 2013-14 campaign.
TEAMS
REAL: Navas; Danilo, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Kroos, Modric, James; Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale
BETIS: Adan; Piccini, Pezzella, Bruno, Molinero; Torres, N'Diaye; Cejudo, Vargas, Ceballos; Castro
So there we have it. Two changes for Real Madrid as James Rodriguez and Karim Benzema come into the team for Isco and Jese Rodriguez. As for Betis, in-demand teenager Dani Ceballos is recalled in what appears to be a loose 4-3-3/4-5-1 formation for Mel's team this evening.
KICK OFF! Here we go then - both sets of players join us on the pitch for the first 45 minutes. Can Real Madrid turn on the style tonight? The visitors get the action underway in Madrid...
... as expected, the home side have taken control of the possession in the opening couple of minutes and it appears that James will operate on the right of Real Madrid's attack tonight. Gareth Bale, meanwhile, is in the number 10 position, with Cristiano Ronaldo left of Benzema.
GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Real Betis (Bale)
Well, that did not take long! Real Madrid break the deadlock in the second minute as Bale heads a super James cross past Adan, who was in no man's land. Not quite the start Betis planned here!
CHANCE! Real Madrid have another super chance as Modric slides a pass towards Benzema, but Adan manages to palm clear. Ronaldo was available for a simple tap-in there!
SAVE! Ronaldo fires a powerful free kick towards the top corner, but Adan manages to push behind for a corner. Betis just cannot get out of their own half at the moment.
Bale manages to break free of the Betis defence once again before collecting a through pass from Benzema, but Adan makes another wonderful save. The offside flag had been raised, however.
Betis manage to break free and force a corner, but the delivery is straight into the arms of Navas, who releases Danilo in a wide area. The pace of this match is quite incredible at the moment - quite clearly Real Madrid's game-plan is to go out and score a couple of early goals this evening.
CHANCE! Another opportunity for the home side as Ronaldo delivers a super cross towards Benzema, but the Frenchman just cannot make contact. It is an onslaught at the moment!
Kroos fires a low strike wide of the post as Betis hold on for their lives in Madrid.
You just get the feeling that Betis need to score the next goal tonight if they are to stand a chance of taking anything from the match. At the moment, Real Madrid are in complete control here.
Betis have just managed to enjoy a spell of possession in the last couple of minutes, but we have not seen much from the likes of Castro and Ceballos thus far at the Bernabeu. The referee, meanwhile, has been busier than he would have liked due to a couple of late challenges.
Another half-chance for the home side as Danilo, on his home debut, breaks into the final third before firing one towards the bottom corner, but Adan just about had the angle covered there.
Betis again threaten from a corner after sloppy defending from Real Madrid, but Ceballos is penalised for handball just outside the box. Ronaldo finds space down the other end moments later, but the attacker cannot feed a pass into Benzema, who had made a clever run behind.
Another half-chance for Real Madrid as Ronaldo meets a far-post corner from Modric, but his header was always rising over the crossbar. Still 1-0 to the hosts with 22 minutes played.
BOOKING! Kroos (Real Madrid) is booked for a late challenge on Piccini.
Half-chance for Real Betis this time as Castro turns inside the Real Madrid box, but his effort, which had power and direction, is blocked by Varane. Much better from the visitors at the moment.
Betis boss Mel would obviously have been disappointed to have fallen behind inside two minutes, but his team have responded pretty well in the last five or 10 minutes here. Real Madrid continue to enjoy the majority of the ball, but the visitors are looking dangerous when they counter here.
End-to-end football in the last couple of minutes as Betis come close following a move that involved Vargas and Castro, before Ronaldo uses his power to burst free down the other end. I would be astounded if we did not have more goals tonight - it has been a super watch thus far.
BOOKING! Vargas (Betis) is booked for a late challenge on Ronaldo.
Not too much to report in terms of clear chances in the last few minutes and Betis will be pleased with how the game is unfolding. The visitors are having some joy in wide areas tonight.
Mel is very animated on the touchline at the moment as a loose pass from Cejudo puts his team in trouble once again. Benzema is on hand to deliver from a wide area as Real Madrid threaten, but Adan makes a strong clearance. Little over 10 minutes of the first period remaining in Madrid.
SAVE! Ronaldo turns on the after-burners to drive past Piccini before facing up to Adan, but the Portuguese cannot beat the Betis goalkeeper, who stands tall to make the save!
Real Madrid have two penalty shouts in quick succession that both involve Ronaldo, but the referee is not interested and play continues. The home side have once again upped the tempo here.
BOOKING! Molinero (Betis) is booked for a late challenge on Ronaldo.
GOAL! Real Madrid 2-0 Real Betis (James)
Stunning, just stunning from James as the Colombian drills a free kick into the top corner via the post. It was an absolute rocket from the attacker and Adan simply had no chance whatsoever!
Well, that could not really have come at a worse time for Betis, who had recovered well following Bale's early goal. In truth, I can now only see one result - a very comfortable home victory.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Betis to cut the deficit to 2-1 as Molinero feeds Castro inside the Real Madrid box, but the striker takes one touch too many and Navas manages to claim!
Modric appears to have a problem for Real Madrid here...
... does not look great for the Croatian as he limps around following a knock to his ankle.
HALF-TIME: Real Madrid 2-0 Real Betis
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Real Madrid winning 2-0 courtesy of goals from Bale and James. Bale headed the home side in front inside the opening two minutes, before a quite stunning free kick from James doubled Los Blancos' lead. Real Betis have had their moments and indeed had a couple of good chances, but Navas's clean sheet remains in tact.
STATS! Real Madrid have utterly dominated the possession with 77%, while they have had nine attempts - five of which were on target. Betis, meanwhile, failed to hit the target with any of their three attempts. There have also been three bookings in what was a feisty first 45 minutes.
BENCH WATCH! It will be interesting to see whether Modric returns for the second period after the Croatian limped off at the end of the first half. Mateo Kovacic, Casemiro and Isco would all be in with a shout of entering in midfield. As for Betis, head coach Mel has options in the shape of Molina, Portillo, Petros and Digard. The visitors are in need of a lift at this point!
RESTART! Here we go then - both sets of players re-join us on the field for the second period. Can Betis find a route back into the match? The hosts resume the second half of action...
... BETIS SUB: Jorge Molina replaces Molinero for the visitors.
If Betis can score the next goal then it would be very much game on at the Bernabeu, but another for the home team and it would be good night. Real Madrid have started on the front foot.
GOAL! Real Madrid 3-0 Real Betis (Benzema)
Real Madrid score their third of the match as a wonderful passing move ends with Bale delivering a super cross onto the head of Benzema, who cannot miss from close range. Game, set and match.
GOAL! Real Madrid 4-0 Real Betis (James)
It is all going horribly wrong for Real Betis as James makes it 4-0 with an over-head kick from close range. Kroos fired a pass into James and the Colombian took on his chest before firing home!
REAL MADRID SUB: Isco replaces Benzema for the hosts.
BETIS SUB: Digard replaces Ceballos for the visitors.
This could be anything that Real Madrid want it to be as they continue to flood forward in the final third of the field. Ronaldo should have had another free kick in a dangerous position, but the referee was not interested despite a late challenge from Pezzella. Betis are in trouble tonight.
You just wonder whether it was the correct call for Mel to bring on another striker at the interval. Betis had not even blinked in the second period and they were already 4-0 behind. As it stands, this is very much a damage limitation exercise as we approach the final 30 minutes of action.
CHANCE! Ronaldo has another chance to add his name to the scoresheet this evening, but once again Adan is across to make a smart save. Still no personal glory for Ronaldo tonight!
PENALTY REAL BETIS!
BOOKING! Varane (Real Madrid) is booked for bringing Castro to the ground inside the box and the visitors have a penalty. A little harsh for me...
... SAVE! Navas denies Castro from the spot! Poor penalty!
Navas can count himself very unfortunate if David de Gea arrives and takes his place for the next match. Casemiro is preparing to enter for Real Madrid and it looks to be Modric exiting here.
Ronaldo again comes close for the home side, but he cannot beat Adan from a tight angle.
REAL MADRID SUB: Casemiro replaces Kroos.
Betis are doing their best to resist the pressure here, but Real Madrid are so dominant and look capable of scoring a couple more before the night is out. Marcelo is next to deliver a super cross into the box, but Bruno clears at the far post. Little under 25 minutes remaining tonight.
Whether Betis remain in La Liga this season is not going to depend on their results at places such as the Bernabeu, but 4-0 is still a difficult score to take at this stage of the match. Just a reminder that Barcelona beat Malaga earlier this evening and therefore it was vital Real Madrid responded here.
The Betis supporters are making plenty of noise at the moment and their team is responding with a period of possession inside the Real Madrid half. In truth, the game is dead at this point!
Cejudo takes a tumble for Betis and that allows both sets of players to grab a water break - it is still very warm in the Spanish capital, even approaching 12am local time. These late matches!
REAL MADRID SUB: Kovacic comes on for his home debut in place of Modric.
Little under 15 minutes of football remaining at the Bernabeu and Real Madrid remain in total control of developments. Betis are off the mark in terms of points after drawing with Villarreal last time out, but this is not the result that they would have wanted before the international break.
SAVE! Ramos tries a spectacular over-head kick for Real Madrid, but Adan is on hand to make the save. The home supporters are enjoying what they are seeing from their team here!
Free kick Real Madrid just outside the box as Pezzella fells Isco...
... SAVE! Ronaldo goes under the wall, but Adan makes the save.
REAL BETIS SUB: N'Diaye is replaced by Petros.
This has been much more like it from Real Madrid this evening after what was a disappointing 0-0 draw against Sporting Gijon last time out. As for Betis, they will bounce back from this result.
Bale comes close to collecting a through pass from Ramos, but Adan is out to clear. But for the Betis goalkeeper, this would have been seven or eight at this stage, that is for certain.
Not an awful lot to report in terms of chances in the last couple of minutes and Betis are currently down to 10 men as Digard receives some treatment following a high challenge with Casemiro.
BOOKING! Casemiro (Real Madrid) was actually booked for that challenge on Digard.
GOAL! Real Madrid 5-0 Real Betis (Bale)
Real Madrid have their fifth and Bale has his second as the Welshman finds the bottom corner, via the post, from outside the box. Super finish from the attacker and that wraps up this game!
The fourth official indicates that we will play an additional three minutes.
BOOKING! Xavi Torres (Betis) is booked for a late challenge on Bale.
FULL-TIME: Real Madrid 5-0 Real Betis
So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Real Madrid running out 5-0 winners at home to Real Betis. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action and be sure to look out for the analysis and player ratings, which will be live over the next couple of hours!
So there we have it. Real Madrid thump Real Betis 5-0 at the Bernabeu to make it four points from their two La Liga games this season. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action and be sure to look out for my analysis and player ratings, which will be live over the next couple of hours!
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
