Asensio solo opens points - Modric scores super

Real Madrid comfortably won their game in hand in La Liga on Wednesday night to reduce Barcelona’s lead at the top of the table back to eight points.

Los Blancos blew away last place Elche, who remain 12 points from safety, in the first half at the Bernabeu, scoring three times before the interval.

Real peppered the Elche goal with shots throughout the night – Karim Benzema had 10 of them himself – and were duly rewarded with the handsome win.

Still missing Thibaut Courtois in goal, Carlo Ancelotti even took the opportunity to rotate his team.

There were only eight minutes on the clock when Marco Asensio converted Dani Carvajal’s assist at the edge of the penalty area. Two Benzema penalties, one at the half hour mark and the other on the stroke of half-time, then put Real out of sight. Substitute Luka Modric eventually made it four off the bench in the closing stages, finding the top corner from 18 yards out.

Elche barely even threatened, failing to hit the target with any of their attempts.

Real will be back in action in La Liga on Saturday, before attention next week turns to the first leg of the Champions League last 16 tie with Liverpool at Anfield.

Real Madrid player ratings (4-3-3)

GK: Lunin (6); RB: Carvajal (8), CB: Militao (8), CB: Nacho (7), LB: Alaba (7); CM: Valverde (7), CM: Camavinga (7), CM: Ceballos (7); RW: Asensio (8), ST: Benzema (9), LW: Rodrygo (8).

Subs: Tchouameni (6), Modric (7), Odriozola (6), Mariano (6), Arribas (N/A).

Elche player ratings (3-5-2)

GK: Badia (5); CB: Gonzalez (5), CB: Roco (5), CB: Magallan (6); RM: Carmona (6), CM: Guti (5), CM: Gumbau (7), CM: Chaves (6), LM: Clerc (7); ST: Nteka (5), ST: Ponce (6).

Subs: Verdu (6), Cheikh (5), Morente (6), Boye (6), Lirola (6).