Real Madrid v Elche LIVE: Real Madrid in cruise control against rock-bottom Elche

Karim Benzema gets on the end of a cut back with a back heel but it's wide of the target.

A nervous pass from Lunin puts the ball out for a throw and Elche are able to put a bit of pressure on Madrid.

The ball is rolling at the Bernabeu!

Karim Benzema is on the pitch parading the FIFA Club World Cup title to the fans and the squad are preparing to take a photograph with it.

Karim Benzema is Madrid's top scorer in the league with 9 goals from 12 appearances, averaging a goal every 116 minutes.

Only Barcelona (43) have scored more goals than Real Madrid's 40 this season in La Liga. Elche on the other hand, have conceded 40 goals - the most of any team.

Real Madrid will be looking to run up a big score tonight especially if they go ahead early.

Elche are without a key man tonight in Pere Milla.

Milla was the hero last week as Elche won their first La Liga game of the season. The 30-year-old Spaniard scored three goals to fire his side to a 3-1 win over Villarreal.

Milla is Elche's top scorer in the league with six goals.

Real Madrid haven't played a La Liga game since February 5th, in the meantime they won their eighth FIFA Club World Cup - beating Al-Hilal 5-3 in the final.

A big blow for Real Madrid is that they are without their talisman Vinicius Junior - he misses out through suspension. The Brazilian has scored seven goals and provided three assists in La Liga this season.

Real Madrid's last five La Liga matches (L,W,D,W,L) paint the perfect picture of how inconsistent they have been this season.

Madrid usually start to click into gear in the second half of the season, particularly in Europe, but domestically after 20 games played they sit 11 points behind leaders FC Barcelona, and it looks like it's going to be the Blaugrana's year this year in La Liga.

Carlo Ancelotti's side come into this clash unbeaten at home this season. Los Blancos have played 13 competitive games at the Santiago Bernabéu so far this season, winning 10 and drawing three.

Rock-bottom Elche recently won their first La Liga match of the season, beating Vilarreal 3-1. This win means that Elche have only lost one of their last four matches - a vast improvement to their form earlier in the season.

Manager Pablo Machin spoke in his preview ahead of the game claiming: "The team are competing better and better and have to continue in this manner"

They sit on nine points, 10 points off Getafe in 19th and 11 points off Valencia in 18th and at this point escaping relegation is a gargantuan task.

Hello and welcome to Eurosport's LIVE coverage of this La Liga clash between Real Madrid and rock-bottom Elche. Team news is up next!