Goals from Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo secured a 2-0 victory over Elche as Real Madrid moved four points clear at the top of the La Liga this evening.
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Real started the game strongly to push Elche onto the back foot, with Gareth Bale seeing his effort ruled out for offside before Ronaldo rattled the post with a curled effort.
Despite often being left frustrated by a stubborn Elche defence, Real continued to make chances, and Ronaldo was agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock with a header which drifted just wide of the target.
The visitors were furious when another goal was chalked off just before the interval as Benzema finished with an acrobatic effort from an onside position.
Elche could have taken the lead against the run of play early in the second half, but Iker Casillas responded impressively to get a strong hand to Victor Rodriguez's strike.
The hosts were punished for a lack of composure in the final third as Real took the lead through Benzema, who fired home from close range after David Lomban had failed to clear a Ronaldo cross.
Elche's hopes of causing an upset were over with 20 minutes remaining when Ronaldo found the space in the box to power a header home from Isco's inviting delivery.
The victory could have been even more comfortable, but Ronaldo's low free kick crept just past the post as Carlo Ancelotti's side picked up another vital win in their title bid.
Callum Mulvihill
