Real Madrid defeat Eibar ahead of Reds and Barca tests

A patched-up Real Madrid began a crucial week by beating Eibar 2-0 on Saturday to increase the pressure on Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga.

With Liverpool to come in the Champions League tomorrow and a Clasico against Barcelona this weekend, Madrid welcomed a comfortable win thanks to goals from Marco Asensio and Karim Benzema.

Victory means Atletico’s advantage over Zinedine Zidane’s side is provisionally reduced to three points. Atletico played Sevilla late yesterday.

Barcelona, who are four points off the top, host Real Valladolid today.

Zidane picked a makeshift starting line-up but not by choice, with Raphael Varane and Toni Kroos both on the bench, the latter after returning early from international duty due to a muscle problem.

Sergio Ramos, Dani Carvajal and Eden Hazard were all injured and left out completely.

None of those three are expected to return against Liverpool at Valdebebas in midweek but a hesitant Eibar performance offered Zidane the chance to take off the likes of Luka Modric, Benzema and Asensio in the second half.

Benzema will be essential to Madrid’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals, and of beating Barcelona too, after the Frenchman made it 11 goals in his last 10 games.

He looked refreshed, with his exclusion from the national team continuing to be of benefit to Real Madrid.

But Asensio was arguably the star of the show, his lively display in the front three likely to earn him a starting spot in the trio of crunch games now to come.

Eibar, who stay 19th, would have suffered a heavier defeat were it not for three goals being chalked off for offside.

Madrid though kept coming, and so did Asensio. Casemiro intercepted Pape Diop’s pass in midfield and steered a superb ball through to Asensio, whose cushioned touch took him away from Anaitz Arbilla and left him with a simple finish.

Benzema headed in to make the victory secure, capitalising on an impressive run down the left from Vinicius Junior.