Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live minute-by-minute commentary of the La Liga clash between Real Madrid and Sevilla from the Bernabeu. Real Madrid will enter the match in fourth position in Spain's top flight, level on points with third-placed Sevilla. Sevilla have been victorious in the last two league meetings between the two teams, but Real Madrid ran out 5-0 winners when they last met at the Bernabeu in December 2017. Stay tuned!

TEAMS!

REAL MADRID: Courtois; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Reguilon; Ceballos, Casemiro, Modric; Vinicius, Benzema, Vazquez

SEVILLA: Vaclik; Carrico, Kjaer, Gomez; Navas, Banega, Vazquez, Escudero; Sarabia; Ben Wedder, Silva

The big team news for Real Madrid is that Karim Benzema starts despite suffering a fractured finger against Real Betis last weekend. Los Blancos still have an extensive injury list, but it is a strong XI, with Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric and Raphael Varane all starting. Isco drops back down to the bench following his disappointing performance against Leganes in the Copa del Rey.

As for Sevilla, Wissam Ben Yedder and Andre Silva will again start as the front two with support from Pablo Sarabia. It is Sergio Escudero and Jesus Navas in the wing-back positions, with Ever Banega and Franco Vazquez in the middle of the park. New arrival Munir El Haddadi is on the bench. Right, kickoff at the Bernabeu is now just around the corner. Stay tuned!

KICKOFF:  Real Madrid will kick things off on home soil...

... Real Madrid are very much on the front foot in the early stages of this match with Benzema and Vinicius already attempting to feed crosses into the away side's penalty box.

Sevilla are struggling to get a touch of the ball at the moment as Real Madrid continue to commit players in the final third of the field. Vinicius looks very lively early on here.

SAVE!  Smart save from Vaclik to keep out a strike from Vinicius, who had been released by Modric inside the Sevilla box. Real Madrid are intent on making the breakthrough here.

This is as good a start as Real Madrid have made this season. Sevilla are just starting to see a bit of the ball, but the home side have been very much on the front foot thus far here.

Vinicius is at the heart of everything that Real Madrid are doing in the final third of the field. The Brazilian has just come close to meeting a through pass from Benzema, but the offside flag was raised. Still goalless with 10 minutes played, but the tempo is very high.

Pass, pass, pass from Real Madrid as they look to work a shooting position here.

Bit of pressure from Sevilla in the last couple of minutes, but Sarabia's corner is cleared before the away side are forced back to their own goalkeeper. Nothing much from the visitors thus far.

Lucas goes down for Real Madrid and needs a bit of treatment, but is soon back on his feet. Not too much to report in terms of chances in the last couple of minutes here.

Sevilla are much more in the match at the moment and Navas has just had a low cross cleared behind for a corner kick. The Sevilla wing-backs are seeing more of the possession here.

Real Madrid are moving the ball quickly at the moment as they pass around in the middle of the park. Benzema has been sharp but has not yet had a shooting chance for the hosts.

Vinicius shows wonderful feet to dance into a shooting position before shifting the ball to Benzema, but eventually Sevilla clear their lines. Vinicius is going to be a superstar here.

CHANCE!  Huge chance for Sevilla as Escudero is fed inside the Real Madrid box, but the wing-back misses the post. He just had to score from that position!

Sevilla are seeing more and more of the ball in Real Madrid's half of the field.

SAVE!  Courtois is on hand to keep out a header from Andre Silva.

Little over 15 minutes of the first period remaining and although Real Madrid started well, Sevilla have had the best chance of the match. You do get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - could be crucial, especially with Real Madrid's struggles this season.

YELLOW CARD!  Carrico (Sevilla) is booked for a foul on Vinicius.

Sevilla are pressing high up the field at the moment as they look to catch out Real Madrid, who are far from secure in a defensive position. Still goalless with 32 minutes on the clock here.

Carvajal breaks down the right for Real Madrid before looking to deliver, but the defender is forced inside and eventually the cross comes from the left. Vaclik collects though.

Sevilla arguably the better team here despite Real Madrid starting well.

SAVE!  Comfortable save for Vaclik to keep out a strike from Benzema.

Modric and Vazquez clash heads in the middle of the park and both need treatment. Modric has a pretty nasty cut on his head and that might well need some stitches.

Modric and Vazquez seem fine to continue, but it was a really nasty collision. Modric has his head bandaged up and will also need to change his shirt due to the presence of blood.

Vazquez has supportive headwear on, while Modric has gone for the bandage. There will be a few minutes of added time at the end of the first period following the stoppage.

Navas delivers another dangerous cross into the Real Madrid box, but the home side manage to clear their lines. Not too many clear chances in the first 45 minutes of this match.

We are into the first of two additional minutes at the end of the first period.

SAVE!  Comfortable save for Vaclik to keep out a long-range Vinicius effort.

HALF TIME:  REAL MADRID 0-0 SEVILLA

So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with the two teams level at 0-0. In truth, it has not been the most entertaining of 45 minutes. Both sides have had chances to make the breakthrough, but the two teams have headed down the tunnel goalless.

STATISTICS! Real Madrid had 65% of the possession in the first period, while they managed three attempts on target from their six shots. Sevilla, meanwhile, hit the target with one of their two attempts. One yellow to report - Sevilla's Carrico for a rash challenge on Vinicius.

BENCH WATCH! Sevilla have recent arrival from Barcelona Munir El Haddadi on their bench this afternoon, while Promes and Aleix Vidal are also available for the visitors. Real Madrid, meanwhile, have options in the shape of Isco, Brahim Diaz, Marcelo and Cristo Gonzalez.

KICKOFF:  Sevilla resume the action here...

... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind as the play develops here.

You do get the feeling that one goal would be enough to win this match. Real Madrid are the team on the front foot at the moment, but no chances to report in the second period.

Benzema attempts to squeeze his way through a number of challenges, but Carrico is on hand to make the challenge. Silva then goes down under a tackle from Varane but play does not stop.

Vinicius has again been Real Madrid's best player, but the Brazilian needs help from the likes of Benzema and Vazquez. The home side remain on the front foot at the moment here.

SHOT!  Casemiro misses the Sevilla goal with a strike from the edge of the box.

At the moment, the match report of this one will be titled - drab goalless draw. It has not been great, but there is still a solid 35 minutes of football for either team to take the lead here.

Bit more urgency from Real Madrid at the moment, but there has not been a clear chance in the second period. Still no movement on either bench with 59 minutes on the clock here.

SHOT!  Modric sees a shot deflected wide of the Sevilla post.

SHOT!  Ceballos now has one deflected behind as Real Madrid threaten.

All Real Madrid here as the home side continue to commit numbers in the final third of the field. Sevilla have not shown any attacking intent in the second half of this match.

YELLOW CARD!  Casemiro (Real Madrid) is booked for a foul on Ben Yedder.

CLOSE!  Vinicius just misses the post with a strike from outside the box!

YELLOW CARD!  Ceballos (Real Madrid) is booked for dissent.

Sevilla waste a free kick in a positive position as Banega tries something different and it does not come off. Real Madrid are now back on the break with players forward.

OFF THE BAR!  Ceballos rattles the crossbar with a powerful strike!

Little under 20 minutes of football remaining and it is still all Real Madrid, with Vinicius the player making things happen. You do get the feeling that there is a late goal in this one.

SEVILLA SUB! Promes replaces Ben Yedder for the away side.

Sevilla will soon make their second change of the match with Munir getting ready here.

SEVILLA SUB! Munir replaces Silva for Sevilla.

CLOSE!  Casemiro sees his header from a Modric free kick drop wide of the Sevilla goal.

REAL MADRID SUB! Isco has replaced Vazquez for the home side.

GOAL!  REAL MADRID 1-0 SEVILLA (CASEMIRO)

It is an absolute screamer from Casemiro! The Brazilian finds the top corner with a stunning hit from outside the Sevilla box. He will never, ever hit a better one than that.

Real Madrid have not been great this afternoon, but there is no question that they deserve to be ahead at this stage of the match. Sevilla have struggled in the second half of action.

Real Madrid are the team looking for the game's second goal with 83 minutes played.

YELLOW CARD!  Kjaer (Sevilla) is booked for a foul on Vinicius.

SEVILLA SUB! Escudero is replaced by Gil.

REAL MADRID SUB! Valverde replaces Ceballos for the home side.

Still time for Sevilla to level, but the visitors have just not been in this match in the second period. It has been a big opportunity missed for the away side this afternoon.

SHOT!  Isco misses the crossbar with a free kick from distance.

We are into the first of three additional minutes at the end of the match.

All Real Madrid here. Sevilla seem to have accepted the defeat.

GOAL!  REAL MADRID 2-0 SEVILLA (MODRIC)

Real Madrid have their second of the match as Modric takes advantage of some poor defending from Carrico before finding the back of the net with a powerful finish!

FULL TIME:  REAL MADRID 2-0 SEVILLA

So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Real Madrid running out 2-0 winners over Sevilla at the Bernabeu to move into third spot in the table. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again. Until next time!

So there we have it. Real Madrid move above Sevilla into third spot in La Liga with a 2-0 win at the Bernabeu on Saturday afternoon. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again. See you next time!