Luka is prize guy as Madrid win
Luka Modric paraded his Ballon d’Or to the Bernabeu faithful – then helped Real Madrid beat Rayo Vallecano 1-0.
Karim Benzema netted the winner in 13 minutes with a confident finish.
But the day belonged to Croatian Modric who broke Cristiano Ronaldo’s and Lionel Messi’s decade-long hold on the prestigious award since Brazil’s Kaka won it in 2007.
On the park, Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois made two injury-time saves to help Madrid go third, at least for a day.
Real winger Lucas Vazquez had a shot cleared off the line before Toni Kroos hit the post and Emiliano Velazquez went close for Rayo.
Sergio Ramos then had a goal disallowed for offside before Courtois’ late heroics.
Madrid remain two points behind city rivals Atletico – who moved level on points with leaders Barcelona with a 3-2 win at Real Valladolid.
Antoine Griezmann scored twice and set up another in the victory.
The Frenchman played a key role in the opener, laying on Nikola Kalinic to score in 26 minutes with a superb through ball.
Griezmann then put his side two up on the stroke of half-time.
The home team came roaring back in the second half, Fernando Calero scoring from a corner before Saul Niguez put Enes Unal’s header into his own net in 65 minutes.
Valladolid pushed for victory but Griezmann stole the three points in a frantic finale, coolly steering home the winner following a corner.
Elsewhere, Getafe beat Real Sociedad 1-0 at home courtesy of Jorge Molina Vidal’s strike after just three minutes.
In Italy, Inter Milan bounced back from their midweek Champions League exit to scrape a 1-0 win at home to Udinese. Captain Mauro Icardi clinched victory with a Panenka-style penalty after Seko Fofana handled.
German leaders Borussia Dortmund beat Werder Bremen 2-1 with Paco Alcacerace a andd Marco aco Reus goals. s.