Real Madrid move four points clear of Barcelona with win over Elche

Real Madrid moved four points clear of Barcelona at the top of La Liga with a hard fought win over Elche, as Cristiano Ronaldo found the net to quell doubts over his current form.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men made the most of Barca’s home defeat to Malaga on Saturday, although they had to wait until the second half to make the breakthrough, with Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo scoring.

Lucas Silva was handed his first Liga start for Real Madrid since making the move to the European champions in the January transfer window, with Ancelotti opting for a familiar frontline of Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Isco and Ronaldo.

Although Real Madrid started the game strongly they soon found themselves frustrated with the home side, as Ronaldo in particular passed up a number of good opportunities in front of goal in the first half.

Elche should have been reduced to 10 men, when attacker Aaron Niguez put in a shocking tackle on Gareth Bale, which caught the Welsh winger high up on the shin with his studs, but the referee elected to flash just a yellow card.

Benzema finally found the opener after 56 minutes, albeit in fortunate circumstances. Ronaldo made the byline before squaring for the French striker, with David Lomban’s clearance rebounding off the back of Przemysław Tyton and falling to Benzema just a few yards out from the empty net.

And Ronaldo doubled his side’s advantage with just over 20 minutes left to play, rising highest from 12 yards out to bullet home a header from an Isco cross. The Portuguese winger came close to adding another from a freekick, flashing a shot just past the post, but the game had already been won.

7’ WOODWORK: And that's off the woodwork! Elche give the ball away about 25 yards from their own goal, with Ronaldo curling a right-footed shot towards goal, but it clips the outside of the post.

22’ RONALDO SHOT: That was a tight angle! The cross comes into Ronaldo at the back post, with the Real Madrid number seven unmarked. But the angle is tight and his shot flashes across the face of goal.

25’ RONALDO SITTER: How has he not scored that? Bale plays a great pass across the face of goal for Ronaldo to finish, but he gets distracted by the challenge of Roco and completely fluffs his effort. Oh dear.

48’ CASILLAS STOP: Casillas is called upon to make a stop in the opening few minutes of the second half! Victor fires off a shot from a tight angle, but nonetheless the Real Madrid keeper needs to make the save.

54’ SHOCKING TACKLE: That should have been red! That was a shocking challenge on Bale from Aaron, who came in like a steam train to snap the Welsh winger high up on his shin. That was a sending off. Disgraceful.

57’ GOAL! Elche 0-1 Real Madrid : That could be a huge moment in this season for Real Madrid! Ronaldo's cross is cleared by Lomban, but deflects off the back of Tyton and falls for Benzema just yards out.

69’ RONALDO MISS: Once again another big miss from Ronaldo. Bale does brilliantly to get to the byline and fire a cross to the near post, but the Real Madrid number seven can't force it goalwards. Poor.

70’ GOAL! Elche 0-2 Real Madrid: And Ronaldo finally has his goal! He's been a frustrated figure tonight but he powers a header past Tyton from Isco's cross.

74’ FREEKICK EFFORT: That was fizzed just past the post! Ronaldo fires a low freekick towards goal from the edge of the box, with the Elche wall parting, but his effort flashes just past the post. Tyton was beaten.

Ancelotti (80) surpasses Mourinho (81) for least amount of goals conceded over his first 100 matches in charge of Real Madrid.

Ronaldo is now tied with Santillana for third place on Real Madrid's all-time scoring list (290 each).

Bale attempted 13 dribbles against Elche, more than in any other La Liga game for Real Madrid.

Can Lucas Silva break into the Real Madrid first-team midfield? The Brazilian has only been at Real Madrid for a matter of weeks, since making the move to Spain in the January transfer window. However, Silva has started the last two games for Real - against Schalke in the Champions League and against Elche in La Liga. Of course, Luka Modric is out injured at the moment, but could Silva force a way into Ancelotti’s strongest eleven? He certainly brings a degree of grit and protection that Real have perhaps lacked in recent seasons.

Isco (Real Madrid) - Cast your mind back to last season when Isco found himself on the fringes of the Real Madrid team. There were even rumours that he could leave the Santiago Bernabeu, but now he is one of his side’s most important players. He is the valve through which most of Real’s best attacking play flows through. When Isco plays well, so does the rest of his team - and he was in excellent form against Elche, demonstrating everything that makes him so great.

Elche - Tyton 7, Albacar 5, Lomban 5, Roco 5, Suarez 4, Aaron 4, Pasalic 5, Adrian 5, Adrian 6, Fajr 4, Jonathas 4. Subs - Rodrigues 6, Galvez 5, Herrera.

Real Madrid - Casillas 5, Marcelo 6, Varane 6, Pepe 6, Carvajal 6, Kroos 5, Silva 6, Isco 9, Bale 7, Ronaldo 7, Benzema 7. Subs - Illarramendi, Arbeloa, Jese.