Madrid edge earlier Espanyol to go two clear of Barcelona
Karim Benzema delivered another minute of magic on Sunday as Real Madrid took a good two-point lead over Barcelona at the top of La Liga by beating bottom level club Espanyol.
Benzema's volley against Valencia could possibly be goal of the growing season and he may now have a case to best assist too after his brilliant backheel teed up Casemiro to complete for a crucial 1-0 win.
Madrid's advantage found in the table, approaching after Barca's draw aside at Celta Vigo on Saturday, is their biggest since February and sets them within sight of their second league subject in eight years.
"It's an essential win," said Benzema. "I cannot say we don't seem at Barcelona, of training we carry out. But we're centered on our very own league. There aren't many games left and every game now is a final."
Zinedine Zidane said Eden Hazard took a good knock to his ankle.
"He took a big hit but it's simply a knock I think," said Zidane.
By enough time his side take up in the home to Getafe on Thursday they might even have the chance to move further sharp, if in-form Atletico Madrid avoid defeat on Tuesday at Camp Nou.
Barcelona certainly have the harder run-found in, with a resurgent Villarreal area to follow Atletico and then local rivals Espanyol, who have shown they might yet finish strong after a determined performance under new coach Franciso Rufete.
Rufete, who was previously the club's sporting director, is Espanyol's 4th coach of the season following the sacking of Abelardo Fernandez about Saturday.
His task is currently to make up a nine-stage gap between his group in 20th and Celta in 17th.
They were undone by a piece of instinctive brilliance from Benzema, who has been the catalyst for Madrid sealing five wins out of five since La Liga restarted on June 11.
- Sensational assists -
Benzema's backheel came on an afternoon of sensational assists after Villarreal's Santi Cazorla before set up Gerard Moreno with an unbelievable, cushioned touch within their 2-0 make an impression on Valencia.
"I have to give huge credit rating to Karim," said Casemiro. "It had been an unbelievable assist. We're used to how good he is, I know the quality he possesses therefore i was expecting something. He heard me asking for it and he played it in an excellent way."
Madrid, though, had been scruffy and ponderous at the RCDE Stadium, this perhaps their least impressive win over the previous three weeks.
But solidity and steel ensured they came through unscathed and it had been no real surprise that defensive midfielder Casemiro, arguably the team's best person this term, was named person of the match.
Espanyol were definately not outplayed and may possibly have been ahead if they had capitalised on some forays down Madrid's still left in the first fifty percent.
With Marcelo repeatedly swept up discipline, Wu Lei was able to sprint clear and his early pull-back was met by Sergi Darder at the trunk post, only for his shot to be blocked by Dani Carvajal.
Madrid were sloppy but created chances. Sergio Ramos headed over Casemiro's smashed effort across goal.
A scrap on the penalty area ended with Diego Lopez palming more than a half-volley from the quiet Eden Hazard.
Espanyol were hanging on for half-time plus they were caught out by Benzema.
Ramos flicked on Marcelo's crossfield pass and Benzema, leaving aim, backheeled off the bounce through the legs of Bernardo Espinosa for the arriving Casemiro to complete.
Wu had another probability early in the second half but scuffed his shot and both teams seemed content to allow score lie until the latter levels, when Espanyol began to take more risks.
Their best chance came in the 87th minute whenever a free-kick evaded the complete Madrid defence but Leandro Cabrera was just short at the back post. Marcelo practically deflected into his individual net for the last action prior to the whistle blew.
Before, Villarreal continued their surge towards Champions League qualification with a victory more than Valencia, inspired by Cazorla.
The 35-year-old found himself under a 60-yard punt from his goalkeeper before cushioning the ball out of your air flawlessly for Gerard Moreno to volley in.
Paco Alcacer also scored against his former club seeing that Villarreal moved just three tips behind fourth-placed Sevilla.
