Real Madrid bounced back in emphatic fashion by demolishing a weak Eibar side 4-0. James Rodriguez opened the scoring with a wonderful free-kick that landed in the bottom corner. Lucas Vasquez made it 2-0 on 18 minutes with a cute finish after a Ronaldo assist.
The Portuguese got his 30th goal of the season a minute later after a composed finish from a low Jese cross to make to 3-0. And the young striker added his name to the scoresheet just before half time with Ronaldo returning the favor by putting it on a plate for him to score into an open net.
Eibar played better in the second half but the result was decided in the first 20 minutes of the match
Squads:
Real Madrid: Casilla; Carvajal, Nacho, Pepe, Arbeloa; Casemiro, Isco, James; Lucas, Ronaldo, Jese
Eibar: Riesgo; Capa, Ramis, Pantic, Luna; Adrian, Escalante, Garcia; Keko, Enrich, Jota
First Half: Real run riot against hapless Eibar
Zinedine Zidane made alterations to the squad that started against Wolfsburg in the Champions League in midweek. Neither Gareth Bale nor Karim Benzema were in the starting XI as the manager made eight changes to the lineup.
Zidane was hoping the changes would have a positive effect and it did exactly that. Real took the lead within five minutes. Jese was fouled just outside the penalty area giving the home side a free-kick in a dangerous position.
You would expect Ronaldo to take charge of the situation but he left it for James Rodriguez who curled a wonderful effort into the bottom corner. The Columbian has been criticized heavily this season but he showed his class in that moment of magic.
Eibar failed to learn from their mistakes and in the 18th minute, Lucas Vasquez made it 2-0. Ronaldo outmuscled his marker in the box and set up the youngster who produced a cute finish with his left foot to double Real’s tally.
Just a minute later Ronaldo got his goal. Jese sprinted away from the chasing Eibar defenders in a counter and put in a low cross for his teammate. Ronaldo as you would expect, remained composed to fire his team into a 3-0 lead.
Eibar at this point just wanted the half to end but not before Real scored a fourth. Ronaldo was once again in the thick of things. After a marauding run on the left-hand side he drove into the box and put it on a plate for Jese who had the simple task of tapping the ball into an empty net.
Second half: Eibar improve with the game decided
With the game pretty much over in the first half Eibar had only their pride at stake. To their credit, they started the better side. Baston had low strike well saved by Kiko Casilla the stand-in goalkeeper for Keylor Navas who was rested by Zidane.
The away side continued to cause problems in the final third with the Madrid defense doing just enough on every occasion. At the other end, Real’s best chance was a low drive from Ronaldo that went wide.
In the 54th Casemiro came off to warm applause from the crowd after another solid performance in the middle of the park. Kovacic came on as his replacement. Danilo also made a substitute appearance but was received by a sound of boos.
Ronaldo could and should have made it 5-0 in the 73rd minute of the game. A wonderful low cross across the face of goal from Vasquez was met by Ronaldo’s outstretched leg with the goal at his mercy but he couldn’t direct it on target.
Eibar did hit the crossbar late in the game but the match was decided in the first half. Real Madrid temporarily move into second place with that win above Atletico Madrid and within four points of Barcelona.
