Real Madrid beat Granada 4-1 to move two points clear at the top of LaLiga – and TEN ahead of Barcelona – with Marco Asensio, Nacho, Vinicius Jnr and Ferland Mendy all on target for Carlo Ancelott’s side
- Real Madrid beat Granada 4-1 away from home after the international break
- Marco Asensio opened the scoring for Real in the first 19 minutes of the game
- Nacho added their tally in the 25th minute to make it 2-0 to the LaLiga giants
- Before Vinicius Jr added a third, before Ferland Mendy added the fourth
- However, Luis Suarez managed to pull one back for the home side in the 34th
- They will look use the momentum in their Champions League fixture with Sheriff
Real Madrid trounced Granada 4-1 with Vinicius and Benzema in the goals again and defender Nacho and Ferland Mendy also on the scoresheet.
We are long way from the business end of the season but this was an ominously effective performance from Carlo Ancelotti’s team. They were helped by Monchu’s second half straight red card but they needed no assistance as they destroyed Robert Moreno’s team.
On 18 minutes they had the lead with Toni Kroos threading the ball through to Marco Asensio who drew the keeper and slid the ball low beyond him.
Carlo Ancelotti’s (above) side get back to winning ways after the international break
It was two on 25 minutes and Kroos was the architect again with a short pass turned in by Nacho from close range.
Madrid could have ended it as a contest through Asensio but his shot was cleared off the line by Alberto Soro. And almost immediately Granada pulled a goal back through Luis Suarez. The Colombian scored with help from a deflection after Quni had robbed Vinicius and fed Gonalons. He got power in the shot and the deflection took it past Thibaut Courtois.
The keeper then had to save from his own player. Casemiro’s defensive header traveled goalwards and Courtois had to turn it around his post.
Madrid were still a threat and Luis Maximiano saved well from Benzema but then Suarez drew another save from Courtois.
Marco Asensio (above) opened the scoring for Real Madrid in the first 19 minutes of the game
Nacho then added their tally in the 25th minute to make it 2-0 to the LaLiga giants
Madrid came out strongly in the second half and when Vinicius and Benzema broke, the Frenchman pulled the ball back for Kroos whose shot was saved.
Benzema was more selfish with his next chance and instead of playing in Vinicius he went for goal and Quini cleared.
When Madrid’s third went in it was the pick of their goals. Benzema laid the ball off to Casemiro he gave it back to him and with a run on goal. He had Vinicius and 36-year-old Modric sprinting forward. He picked out the Croatian, showing no signs of having played 144 minutes on the international break, and he nudged it to Vinicius he rolled it over the line.
However, Luis Suarez (above) managed to pull one back for the home side in the 34th
Real Madrid’s scoreline could have been more if it was not for goalkeeper Luis Maximiano
The Brazilian was tormenting Granada and Monchu could take no more with 20 minutes left hacking him down and seeing a straight red for the foul. Vinicius was now being targeted by Granada defenders and Ancelotti took him off.
If the Granada defence thought things would get easier, Vinicius’ replacement Rodrygo immediately picked up the baton as Madrid went for a fourth. Maximiano saved his shot but with 15 minutes left Ferland Mendy ran on to a Casemiro pass and scored only his third league goal for Real Madrid and the second against Granada.
Madrid were so comfortable that Ancelotti was able to bring on Jesus Vallejo against the club he played for on loan last season. Courtois pushed Jorge Molina’s header over on 89 minutes but otherwise Madrid coasted the last few minutes and left Real Sociedad needing to win to overtake them at the top of La Liga.