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| another great win |
Isco who was chosen to fill the Croatian’s traditional role in the center of the pitch alongside Toni Kroos
With midfielder Luka Modric sustaining an injury while on international duty, manager Carlo Ancelotti had to make a tweak to his normal starting XI, and it was Isco who was chosen to fill the Croatian's traditional role in the center of the pitch alongside Toni Kroos. Out on the flanks James manned the left while Gareth Bale was stationed on the right with the Colombian and Welshman tasked with helping Ronaldo and Benzema up front in attack. In defense it was a full-strength back four consisting of Dani Carvajal, Pepe, Sergio Ramos and Marcelo in front of goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
Eibar looked very much up for the task in the first 20 minutes as the modest Basque club went toe-to-toe with their illustrious visitors. The best chance early on came from Bale whose long-range free kick rang off the crossbar after a touch from Eibar goalkeeper Xabi Irureta. The rebound fell to Ramos but the Andalusian defender failed to hit the target.
The Ballon d'Or favorite struck a spinning shot that rolled into the top right corner of the net to make it 2-0
Good fortune was on Real’s side in the 23rd minute and it helped them open the scoring with a James header. Carvajal led a charge into the Eibar area and fed Ronaldo on the right. The Portuguese passed to a clearly offside Benzema, but the ball simply hit off the Frenchman and back to Ronaldo. Right as the ball was about to roll over the end line, Ronaldo lifted a ball back across at the far post and James was there to nod it in.
On the half hour mark Eibar had the equalizer on the boot of Saúl after a brilliant cross in from Ander Capa, but Casillas timed his block to perfection to deny the Asturian striker. Eibar were left to rue that missed chance as Los Blancos doubled their lead a minute before the break. Carvajal did well to cross for Ronaldo and the Ballon d'Or favorite struck a spinning shot that rolled into the top right corner of the net to make it 2-0.
Real looked to salt away the match in the second half and Benzema nearly did so in the 54th minute, only for Irureta to come up with a big save to keep his side in it. But the former Lyon man would get another chance in the 70th minute and this time he did not
waste the opportunity in slamming in a shot after a nifty pullback by James which Eibar thought had gone out of play.
Ronaldo made it four by converting an 83rd minute penalty after the Portuguese's previous free kick had struck the arm of Eibar's Raúl Albentosa in the area. Ronaldo swept in the spot kick into the lower left corner of the net past Irureta to complete the scoring and sending Real on their way back to the Champions League on a winning note.
