Real Madrid vs Granada: LaLiga, goals, reaction, report
A comfortable afternoon at the Santiago Bernabeu for Real Madrid as they draw level with the 39 match unbeaten run established by Luis Enrique at Barça. Chile-Australia live
Easy
Granada provided little opposition at the Santiago Bernabeu this afternoon as four first half goals from an inspired Real Madrid were enough to conclude the game as a contest after just 45 minutes.
CR7 presents Ballon d'Or
The afternoon at the Bernabeu commenced with Cristiano Ronaldo offering his fourth Ballon d'Or award to a packed Santiago Bernabeu stadium and the Portuguese striker donning special platimum and gold boots to commemorate his latest individual trophy.
Five with no reply
The game was only going one way after just 12 minutes when Isco latched onto a ball to slide past Mexican international Ochoa and Granada were impotent in offering any resistance to a Real Madrid side who were never troubled by the Andalusian outfit. Indeed it was only in the 89th minute when the men in black mustered a shot on target that was saved by Navas. Before then goals from Benzema (in an offside position) another from Isco and a header from Ronaldo had Madrid on cruise control.
The game fizzled out in the second period after Casemiro bagged the fifth with respective coaches thinking ahead to forthcoming games as Madrid face Sevilla in the cup and Granada facing Osasuna in a massive relegation battle at Los Carmenes next Sunday.
Madrid march on, unbeaten in 39 games drawing level with the record set last season by Luis Enrique and his Barcelona side.
Full time: Real Madrid 5-0 Granada
Thanks for your company this afternoon as Madrid strolled to a comfortable three point win to equal Luis Enrique's unbeaten 39 game run. Stay with us for match review and all the post match talking points.
Min 90 | Granada's best chance of the game falls to Kravets who sees his shot well saved by Keylor as the match official calls time on the 90 minute mark.
Min 88 | The game drifts towards the 90 minute mark and Madrid will now look to the midweek Copa del Rey game vs. Sevilla as the opportunity to break Barça's 39 game unbeaten record.
Min 86 | Ronaldo drives a fierce right footed shot on target that forces a good stop from Ochoa.
Min 84 | Shots on target: Real Madrid 14-0 Granada. A disappointing return from the Andalusian side.
Min 80 | Granada will also be looking ahead to next weekend's game as they face bottom side Osasuna in a classic "relegation 6 pointer"
Min 77 | Ponce set to come on for the Andalusian side with Tabanou the player to make way for the attacker.
Min 75 | Possession: 63-37% (RM-GCF)
Min 71 | Inches wide from James with a sublime left footed free kick as Casemiro picks up Madrid's first yellow of the afternoon for a overly vigorous challenge. Tabanou yellow carded for a two footed challenge on Carvajal.
Min 70 | The fizz has gone out of the game now as Madrid have one eye on the midweek game in the cup in Sevilla and the league fixture back at the Pizjuan next weekend. Silva booked for Granada for handball.
Min 67 | Coentrao to come on for Madrid. Marcelo makes way for the Portuguese defender.
Min 64 | Alberto Bueno set to make an entrance for Granada. Boga the player making way for the ex Rayo and Porto striker
Min 62 | Danger from Granada as the visitors mount a rare attack on the Madrid goal which ultimately comes to nothing as the cross is overhit and rolls out for a goal kick.
Min 60 | Casemiro opens his account for the 2016/17 LaLiga campaign as Uche makes way for Marquez in the Granada ranks
Min 58 | Delightful free kick from James slid home by Casemiro
Min 57 | Uche into the book
Min 54 | Absolutely no change in the pattern on the game with Madrid in total control of proceedings.
Min 53 | Benzema latches onto a breaking ball but fires high and over.
Min 50 | Bernabeu ovation for Isco
Min 49 | Isco set to be replaced by Asensio with the player from the Costa del Sol still struggling after the Samper challenge late in the first half
Min 47 | Madrid's tricky away trip to Sevilla next weekend may have much to do with the Real Madrid switch.
HT | Change for Madrid at the break with Kroos (on 4 yellows) off and James on
Half time: Real Madrid 4-0 Granada
Real Madrid 4-0 Granada (half time round-up)
Too easy for Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu this afternoon with the shots on target stat (11-0) in favour of the home side reflecting everything that's happened in the first 45 minutes of today's LaLiga game. Goals from Isco (2), Benzema and a header from Cristiano see Madrid on track to equal Luis Enrique's Barça record of 39 games unbeaten. A long 45 minutes await the side from Granada in the second period.
Min 45 | On the stroke of the 45, the referees whistles sounds bring a conclusion to the first period.
Min 44 | First card of the game for Samper as he hacks down Isco
Min 43 | Delightful play between Modric and Benzema linking up beautifully. The left foot shot from the Croatian easily saved however by Ochoa.
Min 41 | More Madrid pressure with Granada struggling to contain Marcelo's runs forward on the left hand side.
Min 39 | Stat attack: Shots on target: Real Madrid 9-0 Granada
Min 36 | This time Ochoa pulls off a fine save tipping wide an Isco drive
Min 35 | Not wishing to single out a Granada player but Mexican keeper could have done more with 3/4 of the Real Madrid goals.
Min 34 | The Bernabeu is full voice belting out "como no te voy a querer" as Madrid build again.
Min 31 | Barring a come-back of epic proportions Madrid to equal the Barça unbeaten record as Isco makes it 4 tapping home from Modric.
Min 29 | Not even a half an hour gone at the Bernabeu and it's a question of how many for Madrid. A long 60 minutes ahead for Luis Alcaraz's side.
Delightful build-up play from Marcelo firing over a perfect cross for CR7 to nod home to notch his eleventh goal against Granada.
Min 26 | Cristiano makes it 3
Min 26 | Possession: Real Madrid 68 v Granada 32 (%)
Min 21 | A hint of offside maybe? Anyhow, poor keeping from the Mexican international after failing to hold Modric's shot.
Min 21 | The French striker pounces on Ochoa's parry to tap home after a Modric shot
Min 21 | Benzema makes it 2 !
Min 20 | Granada fire off their first shot of the day as Pereira fires over after some decent build up play
Min 17 | 75.000 at the Bernabeu this afternoon, not quite a full house but a very respectable attendance nonetheless.
Min 16 | Cristiano has a long range effort but the ball ricochets off for a corner
Min 14 | Isco bags his third of the season. The gulf in class on view at the Bernabeu so far is abysmal. Keylor Navas yet to touch the ball.
Min 12 | Gooooooooooooool ...Isco fires home the opener after a Benzema assist....Poor keeping from Ochoa in the Granada goal.
Min 12 | Isco looking busy this afternoon!
Min 9 | Marcelo attempts a speculative left foot drive but always going up and off target
Min 7 | The ever present "Illa Illa Illa Juanito maravilla" chant belts out on cue in the 7th minute of every home game as a tribuet to the former Madrid legend.
in 7 | Granada yet to stamp any mark on the game giving the ball away on the few occasions the Andalusian side get possession.
Min 6 | Danger for Granada as a cross from Carvajal bounces dangerously in the Granada area and skips out for a goal kick.
Min 5 | Granada (today in all black) being cheered on by 1.000 supporters at the Bernabeu
Min 4 | Will (As English) mutters "I'm expecting 6-1" ...we'll see!
Min 3 | Madrid looking comfortable moving the ball around with purpose
Min 1 | Formalities over, off we go at the Bernabeu
Real Madrid vs Granada: team news
Real Madrid XI: Navas, Carvajal, Varane, Nacho, Marcelo, Modric, Casemiro, Kroos, Isco, Benzema, Cristiano
Granada XI: Ochoa, Tito, Vezo, Lombán, Silva, Samper, Agbo, Pereira, Boga, Tabanou, Kravets
Real Madrid vs Granada: latest news
12:58 | Cristiano shows off his Ballon D'or alongside Michael Owen, Ronaldo, Figo, Zidane with a video message from Kaka and Cannavaro
12:56 | The Bernabeu goes gold to pay tribute to Cristiano on winning his fourth Ballon d'Or as Hala Madrid belts out over the PA
12:55 | The teams take to the pitch somewhat earlier to allow time for Cristiano's Ballon d'Or presentation.
12:53 | One has to go back to the 1973/74 season for the last Granada win at the Bernabeu.
12:52 | A Granada win at the Bernabeu pays out at 35/1
12:50 | Weather latest: A brisk but sunny day in the Spanish capital. 8c expected temp. at kick-off.
12:45 | Granada fans will not want to be reminded of what happened at the Bernabeu two seasons ago when the Andalusian side shipped 9 (nine) goals in a 9-1 drubbing.
12:40 | The corresponding fixture last season ended up in a narrow 1-0 win for Madrid against a dogged Granada side with Benzema on target .
12:35 | Here's the full team news for both sides.
12:30 | A golden mosaic tifo is expected pre-match as a tribute to the player from Madeira.
12:20 | Cristiano will present his Ballon d'Or award ahead of kick off at the Bernabeu this afternoon.
11:30 | Zidane just one game away from equalling with Luis Enrique's unbeaten record
11:05 | They'll not be sporting it today, but Real Madrid's 2016-17 third strip has been voted the 'worst kit of the year' in an online poll. Do you agree?
10:35 | Having been rested for Real's Copa del Rey stroll against Sevilla on Wednesday evening, a certain Portuguese fellow is to return to the hosts' line-up this lunchtime...
09:35 | The AS Oracle has returned from the Christmas hols full of vim and, dare I say it, no little vigor - and, having dusted off his crystal ball, has made his predictions. Here's what he's expecting at the Bernabéu today.
08:45 | Real Madrid head into today's clash on a run of 38 games unbeaten (since a Champions League defeat to VfL Wolfsburg back in April). If they avoid defeat against Lucas Alcaraz's men today, they'll equal Barcelona's Spanish record of 39 straight matches without loss.
08:30 | Good morning football fans! Join us for all the latest ahead of this afternoon's lunchtime kick-off at the Bernabéu!
Real Madrid vs Granada: match preview
Granada in relegation trouble
Granada are currently ahead of just one team in the league with Osasuna the only side between them and the rock bottom. They have amassed nine points in total through 16 games and are currently on their second manager, having sacked Paco Jémez earlier in the season.
Zinedine Zidane's side are looking to prolong their unbeaten streak to 39 against Granada having gotten the year off to the best possible start last Wednesday when they defeated Sevilla 3-0 at their home ground in the Copa del Rey last 16 tie.
Under Lucas Alcaraz, Granada have improved, albeit marginally, with a win, a loss and a draw in their last three games against Sevilla, Malaga and Real Sociedad respectively. "Away from home this season, the team has done some interesting things," Alcaraz said ahead of the clash but with 5-1, 7-1 and 3-1 losses to Las Palmas, Atlético Madrid and Alaves away from home, nobody is holding their breath on an away win at the Bernabéu.
Ronaldo back for Real
Zinedine Zidane has informed reporters he would start Cristiano Ronaldo despite resting him for the Sevilla game and they have a chance to go six points ahead of their rivals Barcelona (with a game in hand) with Luis Enrique's charges not playing until Sunday night against Villarreal.
Real Madrid will be without Pepe and Sergio Ramos along with longer term absentee Gareth Bale. They will also be missing Lucas Vázquez but Keylor Navas is expected to regain his position in goal after Kiko Casilla kept a clean sheet in the Copa game.
Alcaraz, on the other hand, is missing as many as seven players from his ideal starting line-up. Saunier, Carcela, Foulquier, Toral, Angban and Cuenca will all miss out as willl Rene Krhin. Angban and Carcela are away on national duty for the African Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast and Morocco, respectively.
Real Madrid vs Granada: possible line-ups
Real Madrid:
Navas, Marcelo, Varane, Nacho, Carvajal, Casemiro, Modric, Kroos, James, Ronaldo, Benzema.
Granada:
Ochoa; Gabriel, Vezo, Lombán, Tito; Samper, Pereira, Uche; Boga, Bueno and Kravets.