Real Madrid 2-0 Granada: 5 talking points as Los Blancos pick up crucial win | La Liga 2020-21

#3 Impressive Casemiro showing value in the opposition box

Casemiro opened the scoring for Real Madrid

For the better part of the last five years, Casemiro has functioned as the midfield lynchpin for Real Madrid, with his defensive awareness and tough tackling giving his more attack-minded teammates the impetus to go forward.

While his importance in shielding the defence still remains as optimum as ever, the Brazil international has started showing his value in the opposition box.

🗣️ @Casemiro: "The boss will be the happiest of all. He's always asking that Toni, Luka, Fede and I go into the box."#HalaMadrid | #RMLiga pic.twitter.com/mdouFHNAxE

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) December 23, 2020

The 28-year-old opened the scoring against Granada which, added to his goals against Alaves and Atletico Madrid, means that he has scored in three consecutive home matches for the first time in his career.

Speaking after the game, the former Porto man revealed that his manager has been asking him to go into the box, and Zidane's instructions are seemingly starting to bear fruit.

#2 Real Madrid continue impressive winning run against Granada

Real Madrid have a good record against Granada

This win means that Real Madrid have won their last 11 La Liga games against Granada, which is their longest winning run against any of the teams currently plying their trade in the Spanish top flight.

In that time, they have scored a massive 33 goals - aided by that 9-1 victory in April 2015. Granada would have to wait until next year for another chance to end their losing run against Real Madrid.

#1 Karim Benzema goes joint-top of the goalscorers' chart

Benzema has eight league goals this season

With 90 seconds to go, it looked like Karim Benzema was going to fire blanks against his favourite opponents.

The Frenchman had been industrious throughout the night but had not gotten any clear opportunity until the dying stages of the game.

With several opposition players committed forward in search of an equaliser, there was space left behind for Benzema to exploit when he picked up a pass deep into injury time.

⚽️🔥 Last play of the match? Time for a @Benzema goal!#HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/wCascQ3VLn

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) December 23, 2020

His left-footed finish went past Rui Silva into the Granada goal to continue his fine personal record against the visitors.

The goal means that Benzema has scored 13 goals from 15 games against Granada, which makes them his favourite opponent in La Liga (alongside Athletic Bilbao).

It also moved him to eight league goals for the season, level at the top with Iago Aspas and Gerard Moreno. This could pave the way for a maiden Pichichi award for the former Lyon man.