Real Madrid 2 Malaga 1: Sergio Ramos at the double as 49th and 50th La Liga goals extend lead at top of table to four points
Cristiano Ronaldo endured a frustrating day, while Marcelo was forced off as Zinedine Zidane's men were unconvincing in win
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REAL MADRID extended their lead at the top of La Liga to four points — as they bounced back from two straight defeats.
Sergio Ramos scored twice to bring around his half a century in Spain’s top flight, and become the fourth-highest scoring defender.
Cristiano Ronaldo endured another frustrating afternoon in front of goal as his January blues continued — and was even BOOED by a section of the home fans.
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Failure to kill the game off kept Malaga in the game, and they pulled a goal back with 27 minutes remaining.
And, while they may have returned to winning ways following defeats against Sevilla and Celta Vigo, they were far from their best.
Lucas Vazquez seemed Real Madrid’s best outlet early on down the right, without an end result.
However, Karim Benzema should have scored when found unmarked in the box, but the Frenchman headed wide.
Just moments later, Ronaldo — playing his 250th match in La Liga — was played clean through, but shot straight at Carlos Kameni in the first clash in what would become a personal duel throughout the entire contest.
Malaga then briefly threatened down their right and, in making a vital interception, Marcelo injured himself and was replaced by Isco.
With big games in La Liga, the Copa del Rey and Champions League coming up, Zinedine Zidane rightly looked concerned.
However, just moments later, there were smiles all around those connected with the home side.
That man Ramos — who always pops up with a goal when Real Madrid need him most — headed in from a corner.
And he thought he’d made it two just moments, but saw his header ruled out for offside, before getting on the end of Toni Kroos’ free-kick to double his side’s lead not long after in an incredible ten-minute period for the Spaniard.
Replays showed he may have been marginally offside for the goal that stood, however.
Nevertheless, the goal made it 50 in La Liga, and he is now just 17 behind Ronald Koeman’s all-time record for a defender.
But it was game on when Juanpi coolly finished off after Keylor Navas had saved well from Juan Carlos.
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Real Madrid continued to fluff their lines in front of goal, but almost got a third in the most bizarre fashion.
Kameni, failed to control a backpass and was forced to scamper back and clear off the line, before recovering to save the rebound from Ronaldo.
The hosts saw the game out well to put the pressure back on nearest challengers, Sevilla and Barcelona.