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Real Madrid moved up to second on the LaLiga table following their 3-1 victory at the Estadio de Ipurua. The visitors needed just six minutes to get on the scoresheet when Karim Benzema converted from a lobbed pass by Rodrygo.
Moments later, the Frenchman turned provider for Luka Modric. He combined brilliantly with Lucas Vasquez on the right flank before showing great awareness to pick out the Croatian on the edge of the box, who made no mistake from 18 yards out.
Eibar got a goal from nothing when Kike Garcia halved the deficit with an exquisite shot from distance, leaving Thibaut Courtois with no chance. The hosts had several chances to grab an equalizer in the second half but failed to take them and they were duly punished for this.
Vasquez got the goal his industrious display deserved when he scored with virtually the last kick of the game to put Real Madrid 3-1 up. The win moves Los Blancos level on points with table-toppers Atletico Madrid, having played two games more ahead of their next match against Granada.
Here are five talking points from the fixture.
#5 Real Madrid keep up impressive run of form
At the start of December, Real Madrid were a club seemingly in crisis. A run of just one win from five matches had left the Spanish giants on the precipice and staring at group stage elimination in the Champions League.
Reports suggested that Zinedine Zidane was on the verge of being sacked, with Mauricio Pochetino and Raul Gonzalez lined up as potential replacements.
However, the club have responded in style since then and picked up wins against Sevilla, Borussia Monchengladbach and City rivals Atletico Madrid in what was a season-defining week.
This win against Eibar means that Real Madrid have won their last five games in all competitions on the bounce, scoring 11 goals and conceding just two.
A routine home win against Granada on Wednesday will see the defending champions head into the Christmas break in buoyant mood, making a mockery of those who wrote them off earlier in the month.
#4 Kike Garcia scores stunning worldie against Real Madrid
Given the gap in class between both sides, it was always going to take a moment of magic for Eibar to get something in this fixture. As it happened, that proved to be the case in the 28th minute.
When Kevin Rodriguez passed the ball to Kike Garcia near the throw-in line, there was seemingly nothing to worry about from a Real Madrid perspective. Four defenders in white were closing in on him and there was no support from any of his teammates.
However, the 31-year-old did not need anybody, as he attempted an outrageous curler from 25 yards that rifled in off the post.
The ball was struck with razor-sharp precision and drew audible gasps from the players nearby. Courtois of course dived to fulfill all righteousness but the former Chelsea goalkeeper was never going to stop that goal in a thousand lifetimes.
It is not a stretch to suggest that this goal is a potential contender for the Puskas award and the fact that it came against Real Madrid would give it a special pride of place in Kike's mind.
#3 Eibar fail to take chances against visitors
The last time Eibar hosted Real Madrid, they found themselves 3-0 down inside half an hour in what was an eventual 4-0 whitewash. When Benzema and Modric put Los Blancos two goals up inside 12 minutes, fans of the Basque side might have feared that another thrashing was on the cards for their team.
The capital side had started the game like a house on fire and fashioned many chances in the opening exchanges.
Real Madrid, however, seemed to take their foot off the pedal after their two-goal cushion and Eibar nearly made them pay for it.
Kike's wonder goal appeared to spark the hosts into life and they began the second half on the stronger foot.
International teammates Takashi Inui and Yoshinori Muto should have done better when they found themselves with presentable opportunities, while Sergio Ramos produced a stunning tackle to deny a goalscoring chance late on.
Chances come at a premium against sides like Real Madrid and Eibar's failure to take theirs were punished when Lucas Vasquez scored on the breakaway in the dying moments of the game.
#2 Madrid sides looking likely to be only horses in title race
As already indicated, Atletico Madrid currently sit top of the standings after 14 matchdays. Under the watchful eyes of Diego Simeone, Los Colchoneros are currently setting the pace, while the addition of Luis Suarez has also added a different dynamic in attack.
Atletico had earlier dispatched Elche 3-1 on Saturday to open up a three-point advantage at the summit and Barcelona's 2-2 draw with Valencia later in the day further aided their cause.
With their victory over Eibar, Real Madrid sent a statement of intent to their city rivals. Despite having a two-game deficit, Los Blancos look primed to take advantage of any slip-up by the table-toppers.
#1 Karim Benzema continues fine run of form for Real Madrid
Karim Benzema was the star of the show as Real Madrid defeated Eibar on their own turf. The Frenchman excellently controlled a lobbed pass by Rodrygo to give himself an easy finish in the sixth minute and also produced a moment of magic to set-up Luka Modric soon after.
His tenacity in the box saw him rob Kevin Rodriguez off possession and he showed great awareness to pick out his teammate on the edge of the area.
Benzema spurned a great chance to put Real Madrid 3-0 up soon after when he inexplicably headed wide after a left-footed cross by Modric found him unmarked in the area.
The 33-year-old, however, left a final mark on the game when he set Vasquez up for his side's third goal in injury time.
The goal and pair of assists mean that Karim Benzema has scored 11 goals and provided five assists from 17 matches in all competitions this term, while his goal involvement against Eibar reads 11 from 11.
With their star striker in this form, Real Madrid would fancy their chances of going all the way and achieving their season objectives.
